The National Union of Special Education Workers of the Ministry of Justice (SYNTES/Justice) held a sit-in on Monday in front of the Directorate General of Judicial and Social Protection to demand better working conditions and fair treatment within the ministerial department.

"We have long been marginalized. Every time it comes to granting benefits within the Ministry of Justice, we are left out," said the union's general secretary.

Special education workers also point to the dilapidated state of the infrastructure and the lack of logistical resources. "The AEMO service carries out 90% of its work in the field, but it doesn't even have a vehicle. In some areas, colleagues travel on motorcycles, risking their lives," denounces Secretary General Baba Lyssa Ndiaye.

The staff are also demanding a reclassification of educators to the HR A2 pay scale, in accordance with international standards, as well as an increase in the level of training to a bachelor's degree.

Statutory injustices and lack of bonuses

In the same vein, the union also deplores the lack of compensation for positions of responsibility. "We are department heads without any benefits. Paradoxically, the higher we climb in rank, the lower our salary becomes," the general secretary criticized.

The staff are therefore demanding the creation of responsibility allowances and an increase in the judicial participation allowance, which they consider paltry compared to other departments within the ministry. The workers are also contesting Decree No. 792-2024, which they deem "suspicious." This decree reserves the directorship and deputy directorship positions for magistrates outside the regular hierarchy. "We are not challenging the magistrates themselves, but we also have competent managers in the A2 category who could fill these positions," they argue.

The union points to an excessive judicialization of child protection structures, in contradiction with the principles of dejudicialization advocated in this area.

The protesters also drew attention to the dilapidated state of several facilities, particularly the child protection centers. "These buildings date back to the colonial period! The staff work there in inhumane conditions. Imagine a laundry worker washing clothes for 1,000 children without a washing machine, or a cook without adequate equipment," the union lamented.

The workers are calling on the Minister of Justice to provide swift responses to their demands. Otherwise, they promise to escalate their actions. "This sit-in is the second step in our action plan. We will soon move towards a work stoppage, then a general strike if nothing is done," warned the general secretary.