Administrative staff and contractors of the Ministry of Education demand salary improvements and outstanding payments
A large group of administrative and support staff from the Dominican educational system, including janitors and gardeners, mobilized this Wednesday to raise their voices before the Ministry of Education. The main demand focuses on the urgent need for a salary increase that allows them to cope with the current high cost of living.
The protesters pointed out that current wages, which range between 10,000 and 12,000 pesos per month, are insufficient to cover basic needs such as food, transportation, and health services. The situation is becoming critical for many families who depend on this income for their daily subsistence.
We are working and we are not getting paid. Current salaries do not even allow us to cover basic health expenses for our families.
Testimony from an affected janitor
Voices of protest in the face of the crisis
During the day of protest, various workers expressed their discontent with the management of the educational authorities. Among the points highlighted by the protesters are:
- The direct call to the Minister of Education to personally address the precarious conditions of the support staff.
- The warning that, if a satisfactory response is not received before the start of the next school year, the staff could paralyze their work in educational centers.
- The denunciation that the income received does not even reach a quarter of the cost of the basic family basket.
Contractors join the claims
The protest not only involved administrative staff, but also a group of contractors who reported non-payment for renovation work already completed. According to those affected, there are more than 400 outstanding financial commitments, despite the fact that the works have been duly audited, received, and invoiced by the institution.
Geraldo Trinidad, representative of the contractors, explained that many professionals have had to invest their own resources to complete projects that are already serving the communities, now facing a difficult economic situation due to the lack of payment from the Ministry.
The protesters concluded the day by reaffirming their intention to maintain the mobilizations until a definitive solution to their demands is obtained, hoping that the authorities prioritize the well-being of those who keep the country’s school centers operational.
