Academics demand better pay and improved benefits

The general coordination committee of faculty members of higher education institutions in Libya has called on all universities to implement a sit-in and suspend teaching and learning activities until the relevant authorities take practical measures to address the salary levels, health benefits and general working conditions of staff.

Higher education expert Ahmed Atia, the head of the department of advisory and research in the faculty of medical technology at the University of Tripoli in Libya, told University World News the strike was the employees’ response to the financial pressures and difficulties they are experiencing in the sector.

Even Libyan academics at the highest end of the pay scale earn less than the minimum annual salary necessary to sustain a middle-class lifestyle, according to a survey of Arab public university professors’ remuneration.

This call to action was outlined in a statement published on the general coordination committee’s official Facebook page after a meeting in Tripoli on 5 January 2021.

The general coordination committee is a non-governmental organisation that includes all teaching staff in higher education institutions and focuses on strengthening unions to uphold and defend the rights of staff members.

Sit-in and legal action

The statement on Facebook indicated that the open sit-in includes not performing any work related to teaching, research, and supervising graduate projects as well as examinations at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

It also called for legal action in an effort to bring about improved benefits.

In addition, the statement called upon the presidential council of the United Nations-backed Libyan Government of National Accord led by Fayez al-Sarraj, the Libyan Ministry of Education and all relevant authorities to urgently address the problems and consider the demands of university staff.

Some of their basic demands include the disbursement of money related to all promotions and bonuses.

It includes the financial settlement of suspended scientific sabbatical leave and continued sabbatical leave to those who deserve it, covering the financial expenses related to the cost of publishing scientific papers in local and international journals as well as the expenses for attending scientific conferences and training workshops held abroad.

Some of the general demands include health insurance for faculty members, re-initiating the study-abroad programme for masters study, reviewing the 300 universities approved by the education ministry for study-abroad programmes and implementing the new universities draft law which includes the amended salary schedule.

Dr Aisha Shahlol, research director and assistant professor in the faculty of engineering and technology at the Brak campus of Sabha University, told University World News the state should improve higher education in addition to taking care of the socio-economic and health welfare of university staff.

“I think the state should pay attention to improving higher education and scientific research sectors to produce skilful, market- and industry-ready graduates and future scientists for developing a knowledge-based, sustainable economy in Libya,” she said.

Ministry of finance’s response

During a meeting on 16 January between a delegation from the general coordination committee and the Minister of Finance, Faraj Abu Matari, the ministry clarified some matters, according to another statement published by the committee.

The minister said there were not enough grounds for the implementation of health insurance.

“As for the unified salary scale, it is still under preparation, and it is not known when it will be issued and will be implemented,” Abu Matari indicated to the committee.

“The members of the general coordination will continue to follow up on all that was agreed upon with the minister and communicate with all officials to convey the voice and demands of the faculty members,” said the statement.

Education ministry’s response

On 11 January, Minister of Education Mohammed Ammari Zayed issued a letter to the Presidential Council recognising some of the university staff demands.

“The salary and the allowance that a faculty member receives are not sufficient to cover living expenses, which drives such a faculty member to search for sources of income and to engage in work that does not preserve his scientific and social standing,” Zayed wrote.

“Therefore, the faculty member must be rewarded financially so that the income covers his living needs and allows the member to devote himself to the performance of his scientific and educational duties.”

Zayed has put forward a proposal to the Presidential Council to amend the teaching hours of university staff.

Looking ahead

Atia said the education minister’s letter and the finance minister’s clarifications are positive moves towards solving the problems facing university staff.

“[We hope] to see solutions for the other demands to have a stable academic year, especially with the ministry of education recently providing permission to gradually resume studies for universities, colleges and higher technical institutes under strict health measures,” Atia said.