On the eve of a nationwide one-hour strike by primary school teachers, ministers have warned that there is no money available to close the pay gap in the education sector.

Teachers have warned that further stoppages will be forthcoming unless the government pledges to invest in raising wages. They argue that primary school teachers earn between 7% and 21% less despite having to deal with increasing workloads.

Social affairs minister Lodewijk Asscher promised earlier this year to invest more money in education, but education minister Jet Bussemaker said the caretaker government did not have the resources to boost wages.

‘Moreover, there are strong constraints on the ministry’s own budget resulting from higher costs and higher numbers of students,’ Bussemaker and junior minister Sander Dekker said in a written explanation to Parliament.

Primary school teachers earn a starting salary of €2,896 a month before tax, including bonuses, rising to a maximum of €5,294. The equivalent amounts in secondary schools are €3,074 and €6,289.