Nepal school staff protest over lack of salary increase and incentives

School staff have announced a protest, citing their salaries have not increased while those of other employees have. Gangaram Tiwari, President of the Nepal School Staff Council, and General Secretary Shantinath Yogi issued a joint statement on Thursday declaring the protest with various demands.

They have written to the Prime Minister, Education Minister, Finance Minister, and the Director General of the Education and Human Resource Development Centre, complaining that while other employees received a 10% salary increase, a 10% incentive, and a 5,000 rupee cost-of-living allowance, school staff have been discriminated against with no salary increase.

The letter expresses serious concern over the neglect of school staff. They urge the government to address demands related to salary scale, stability, social security, and service benefits for school staff within the budget discussion and approval process.

In announcing the protest programs, they demand an increase of 15,000 rupees for school staff and 10,000 rupees for office assistants. They warn of a second phase of protests centered in Kathmandu if their demands are not met.

Despite the government increasing the minimum salary of other civil servants, institutional employees, and teachers to 40,000 rupees from the upcoming fiscal year 2083/84, school staff and early childhood facilitators have been left out, facing discrimination with no salary increase.