Speaking to Fiji One News, Fiji Teachers Union General Secretary Muniappa Goundar has confirmed that 118 of the 134 teachers affected by the Pay 18 issue are expected to receive their salaries in their bank accounts by this afternoon.

Goundar says the FTU’s position remains clear that no teacher should be left without their rightful salary because of administrative or verification processes.

He says while the union recognises there may be legitimate verification requirements, teachers have financial commitments including mortgages, rent, food expenses and their children’s education costs.

Goundar stresses that a salary is not a discretionary payment, but the livelihood of a worker and their family, and says the Ministry of Education must urgently address every outstanding case individually.

He says he has been in discussions with the Permanent Secretary for Education, including meetings yesterday and again this morning, where it was confirmed that 118 teachers would receive their Pay 18 payments today.

Goundar has thanked the Ministry for what he describes as a swift decision to get the outstanding salaries paid, saying the priority must now be to get teachers back into the classroom.

However, he says the FTU will continue pursuing answers over how the salary payments were stopped in the first place, with the union expected to meet Ministry officials again tomorrow to verify the remaining cases.

The FTU General Secretary says the union wants to get to the bottom of who authorised the stoppage of the payments, stressing that accountability over the matter remains important.

By: Joeli Ragoneliwa