Ivory Coast bishops call for
protection of workers’ salaries amid trying times
 |
| Bishop Ignace Bessi Dogbo, President of the Episcobal Conference of the Ivory Coast |
The Episcopal Conference of the Ivory Coast urges the
country’s Catholic Education Secretariat to maintain the jobs of its personnel
duurgering the coronavirus pandemic.
By Fr. Benedict Mayaki, SJ
The coronavirus pandemic has triggered fears of an economic
downturn in many countries. As business, employers and even countries continue
to adapt to these trying times, millions of people’s jobs around the world are
increasingly endangered.
In light of this, the Bishops in the Ivory Coast have called
on the Catholic Education Secretariat in the country to “maintain the jobs and
salaries of employees.” They made this call in a press statement released on 23
April under their umbrella body of the Episcopal Conference of the Ivory Coast
(CECCI).
The Bishops’ plea comes on the heels of another recent call
made by the President of the Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa
(RECOWA-CERAO), Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama. He urged governments in Africa to
ensure the payment of workers’ salaries to alleviate their suffering amid the
coronavirus pandemic.
Ivorian Bishops’ plea
The Bishops expressed their concerns that the loss of jobs
or reduction of salaries for those who are able to continue working would cause
many families to suffer. For this reason, they urge the Education Secretariat
to “give priority to the payment of salary arrears accrued when schools were
closed”. They also invite the Education Secretariat to “enter into
negotiations” with their staff in the case of financial difficulties.
The Ivorian prelates also indicated their closeness to
Catholic education personnel in the country. The Bishops asked that teachers in
Catholic schools remain at the disposal of their employers for possible
professional solicitations, and “show understanding and a spirit of sacrifice
in negotiations” with them. The Bishops also call for Christians “to unite in
prayer for a rapid end to the pandemic.”
Closure of schools hard on the Church
All schools and universities have been closed in the Ivory
Coast since 17 March. This is one of thirteen precautionary measures adopted by
the government against the spread of the Covid-19 virus. The government has
also imposed a lockdown in Abidjan, the West-African nation’s capital city.
The closure of schools in the country has been felt by
Catholic-run educational institutions and as many of them have been plunged
into financial difficulties.
This is due to the “unresolved payment of the 2018-2019
subvention and the non-payment of the 2019-2020 subvention by the state,”
explained Father Jean Luc N’dreman, the Catholic Education Secretary. He also
noted the “impossibility of recovering the totality of school fees owed” the
Catholic schools.
Coronavirus
The Ivory Coast has recorded at least 1,150 cases of
Covid-19, 14 related deaths, and 468 recovered patients. A total of another
31,000 people have been infected in Africa.
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