BISHKEK -- Kyrgyz Prime Minister Almazbek Atambaev says the salaries of secondary-school teachers and health-care workers will be substantially increased as of May 1, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.
Atambaev made the announcement to his cabinet. He later told RFE/RL the government had managed to find 10 billion soms (about $210 million) necessary for giving the teachers and doctors a wage increase of between 250-300 percent.
Atambaev said a similar sum of money would be needed to "fully satisfy" the demands of teachers and doctors.
In December, secondary-school teachers in several Kyrgyz regions protested their monthly salaries of some 1,500-1,600 soms ($30-$40) and went on strike.
They ended their strikes after the government promised to increase their salaries by 30 percent as of January 1.
But the government stated earlier this month that the increase would take place on February 1, which prompted some teachers in the north to resume their strike.
Medical personnel in Kyrgyz hospitals and clinics warned the authorities in December they might begin protest actions unless their salaries were increased.
Read more in Kyrgyz here
Atambaev made the announcement to his cabinet. He later told RFE/RL the government had managed to find 10 billion soms (about $210 million) necessary for giving the teachers and doctors a wage increase of between 250-300 percent.
Atambaev said a similar sum of money would be needed to "fully satisfy" the demands of teachers and doctors.
In December, secondary-school teachers in several Kyrgyz regions protested their monthly salaries of some 1,500-1,600 soms ($30-$40) and went on strike.
They ended their strikes after the government promised to increase their salaries by 30 percent as of January 1.
But the government stated earlier this month that the increase would take place on February 1, which prompted some teachers in the north to resume their strike.
Medical personnel in Kyrgyz hospitals and clinics warned the authorities in December they might begin protest actions unless their salaries were increased.
Read more in Kyrgyz here
