Hospitals and schools were shut in Chad Monday as civil servants went on strike over pay cuts imposed by the cash-strapped government which is under pressure to cut public funding to meet the demands of international donors. Public sector workers are demanding payment of their "full salary" after bonuses and allowances were slashed by 50 percent in January as part of a package of austerity measures to improve state finances. They had already seen a similar 50 percent cut in 2016.
President Idriss Deby, who has been in power since 1990, had asked them to wait until the end of the year to regularise their salaries. The unions on Saturday refused his request and called for an indefinite strike. Primary and secondary schools in the capital and the University of N'Djamena were closed on Monday while the main ministries were functioning at a slow pace, with many offices shut.
"This strike is jeopardising the future of our children who are in exam class," said parent Joseph Issa. Schools in other major cities were also closed. At the general hospital in N'Djamena, staff nurse Ali Soumaine said they were providing "a minimal service for surgery, resuscitation and other sensitive services". The government was "surprised" at the strike call, spokeswoman Madeleine Alinque said in a statement.
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