High schools were closed on Monday, October 1 in Guinea Bissau as the teachers union proceeded on a thirty-day strike because of deplorable working conditions and unpaid salaries. The strike action was called by three unions – National Union of Teachers, Democratic Union of Teachers and the Union of Higher Education.
The strike action affected secondary schools but primary schools remained open. The teachers are asking for an increment in the minimum wage from 30 euros to 75 euros monthly. There has been an agreement to align the teacher’s salary scale with that of the West African Economic & Monetary Union and the Guinea Bissau government has reneged on its promises.
