Salaries Haven't Dropped Since May 2022, Masses Of PPPK Teachers Geruduk West West Papua Governor's Office

The masses of PPPK teachers rallied in the courtyard of the Southwest Papua Governor's Office, Sorong on Tuesday, April 4. (Between)

PAPUA - The mass of teachers with government employee status with a work agreement or PPPK protested in the courtyard of the Southwest Papua Governor's Office, Sorong City on Tuesday, April 4.

The teacher in the provinces of West Papua and Southwest Papua said that a number of their rights had not yet been fulfilled.

The masses of teachers shouted their demands while carrying a number of banners, which, among others, read "We PPPK teachers are not illegal, we are working to educate the nation, but retaliation for our rights as if not being taken into account."

Among the protest participants, there were also those who collaborated to convey their demands.

According to Sandra, a state vocational high school teacher who participated in the demonstration, among the 643 PPPK teachers who received a decree (SK) for appointment in May 2022, there were 615 teachers who had just received salaries until December 2022 and 24 people who had not received a salary at all.

"We have received a decree in May 2022 so far, some have not received a salary," he said.

"If you follow TMT (starting the date), it means that from May 2022 our salaries have to come out," he added.

He revealed that the problem occurred during the transfer of PPPK teachers from the West Papua Provincial Government to the Southwest Papua Provincial Government.

According to him, the transfer caused uncertainty for the PPPK teacher and had an impact on paying the salaries of the PPPK teacher.

However, he said, the PPPK teacher, who since May 2022 has not received a salary, is still trying to carry out his duties while waiting for information regarding salary payments.

"We continue to carry out our duties as teachers and teach as usual while waiting," he said.

PPPK teacher who teaches in one high school in the interior of Sorong Regency, Taufik Saldi, hopes that the government will immediately fulfill the obligation to pay the salaries of PPPK teachers.

"Until now, our salaries have not been paid since January 2023-April 2023," he said, adding, "We will continue to wait until our rights are paid in full."

He hopes that the demonstration by teachers can encourage the Provincial Government of Southwest Papua to fight for the immediate payment of the salaries of PPPK teachers.