Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara – Around 5,000 schoolteachers threatened to strike unless their allowance is increased significantly.

"In a meeting the teachers agreed to hold a street rally Monday, October 22. A mass strike will follow the rally," chairman of the Kupang Teachers Forum, Dumuul Djami, said Thursday.

The strike was the teachers' response to a recent decision by Kupang's Legislative Council, he said.

The council decided to provide each teacher with an allowance of Rp 200,000 (US$21) a month. The council also said the allowance would only be provided to teachers at state-owned schools.

"The amount is much less than the amount proposed by the Kupang administration of Rp 350,000 a month. The allowance should be given to both teachers at state-owned and private schools," Djami said.

The decision shows the legislators' insensitivity toward teachers and their difficult lives, he said. "We have never been given allowances but we survive off our monthly salary from the government."