Teachers at the international school in Myanmar were advised that they would receive their October salary in the second week of November. Second week came by and there was no word from the school to advise their teachers that the salaries would be paid late… again.
In the third week, teachers started contacting each other to check if others have been paid. Two out thirty teachers (both local and expat) were paid because they had made a lot of noise about the last late payment.
The head teacher, Sam, then contacted the school’s manager, Mr Greg, and asked if he was aware that teachers have not been paid. His response was short and simple, “I got mine so I assume that everyone got paid as well.” The next day, another teacher, Mike, asked Mr Greg when salaries would be paid as he needs to pay rent in the coming week. Mr Greg’s answered, “I am sorry. I wasn’t aware that the salaries are late again for this month.” Mike then contacted Sam to find out what the story was. This then got unloaded in the school’s WhatsApp group. They found out, not only the expat teachers have not been paid, the locals have not been paid either.
After teachers found out, Mr Greg suggested that teachers stop contacting him about salaries. They should be addressing their concern with the school’s finance officer as this has nothing to do with him. HE IS THE SCHOOL’S DIRECTOR, ACTING AS A PRINCIPAL!!!! This is part of his job!!!!! This is the same guy who suggested that teachers move to countries closer to Myanmar to minimise the time difference.
To date, only one additional teacher has received October salary. We all speculated that this teacher has been paid because she is the lead teacher and if she were paid, she can’t encourage teachers to go on a strike.
We are not holding high hopes that November salaries would be paid when they shoud as well.
Living in limbo 