PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti, CMC—The government has signed an agreement with trade unions representing teachers in Haiti, officially ending an indefinite strike that began on January 13 and paralyzed public schools.
Prime Minister Alix Didier Aimé led a government delegation that included Education Minister Antoine Augustin and Economy Minister Alfred Mettelus in Monday’s talks with the unions, resulting in a consensus on several matters.
According to a statement issued following the talks, the government has committed to continuing and strengthening the steps being taken to regularise, as soon as possible, the situation of teachers working without pay or without a letter of appointment and to process files relating to salary arrears owed to the teachers.
In addition, from February, teachers and staff at the Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training ( MENFP) will be provided with a debit card for 15,000 Gourdes (one Gourde = US$0.007 cents).
The government has also committed to working closely with state agencies to restore public insurance coverage for teachers and other Ministry employees and to partnering with the National School Canteen Programme to guarantee a hot meal for students and other stakeholders.
There is also a commitment to establish a Joint Commission to examine the situation of primary and secondary school teachers.
In addition to these immediate commitments, the government and the unions have agreed to continue discussions within a strengthened social dialogue framework.
The statement said the objective is to reach a lasting memorandum of understanding that will resolve the structural problems of the education sector, including the adjustment and harmonization of salaries and the improvement of working conditions.
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