Panama teachers seeking 60 percent raise

REPRESENTATIVES of 15 teaching groups descended on the Ombudsman’s office on Friday, January 31 to present a proposal for a wage increase of 60 percent for more than 40,000 teachers in Panama.

The same proposal had been presented to the Ministry of Education a week earlier but had received no response.

There were no ministry officials at the meeting as the Ombudsman had requested a meeting with the union leaders first.
 The leader said the unions are also seeking a review of the scale of bonuses for teachers who obtain post graduate diplomas.
Minister of Education Lucy Molinar said recently at an event in Chiriqui that salaries would be increased, but did not specify an amount.
"It is part of a program that we have been developing and we will make the announcement soon," she said.
But Sánchez said the announcement "makes it clear that she does not want to consider or discuss our proposal."