The contract teachers are finally exempted from the lower admission scales by 10%, according to the Finance Minister’s assurances to the OELMEK leaders, within the framework of their meeting earlier today.

According to OELMEK Chairman, Demetris Taliadoros, the Finance Minister said that teachers who have seniority until 31/12/2011 will not be regarded as newcomers and, therefore, they will be exempted from the measure.

On the other hand, the Minister reiterated the well-known decisions of the government on the regime of the contract teachers for the pension benefits and the need to contribute all, both those of the public and the private sector, to the fiscal consolidation effort.

The OELMEK leadership expressed its content for the clarifications that the measure will exempt the contract the contract teachers.

According to Mr. Taliadoros, the teachers asked by the Minister the exception of their declared and tax revenues from the measure of the targeting of the social benefits.

At the same time, they expressed their opposition to a third package of measures with proposals that would affect their benefits and salaries.

“The teachers will forward the Minister’s answers to their competent institutions and will take their decisions”, Mr. Taliadoros said.