Mohammed Awad, Secretary General of the Palestinian Hamas-led government, on Saturday rejected threats by unpaid employees, mainly teachers, to go on strike next month.
Thousands of teachers and other civil servants threatened to go on an opened general strike on Sept. 2, the day the new school year begins in the Palestinian territories.
Awad told Voice of Palestine radio that "we use the strike in the wrong direction," which "is rejected if its aim was to exert pressure on the government."
He clarified that the Hamas-led government "uses all ways to soften the crisis resulted by the lack of salaries."
By the end of August, 165,000 employees of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) would mark the 7th month without salaries.
They have vowed to go in a general strike at the beginning of September unless their salaries are paid or the Hamas government stepped down.
However, the ruling Hamas movement blame the international community responsible for the lack of fund.
"The strike should carry a message to the countries that impose a siege (on the Hamas government) and should be held under agreement with the government to let the world hear our voice," stressed Awad.
Meanwhile, healthcare workers in the West Bank city of Ramallah went on strike in front of the city's hospital on Sunday, demanding their wages be paid.
|
Director: Liu Chi