The government yesterday declared it had closed debate on the contentious teachers' salary increment.

At the same time, Education Minister Kalonzo Musyoka said he intended to re-introduce the controversial Teachers' Service Commission (Amendment) Bill in Parliament.

He appealed to teachers to allow Parliament to debate it, saying it was "in their best interests".

The minister said talks going on between the teachers' union and the ministry over the salaries were "normal regular consultations".

He was quoted on Wednesday as having said that the union and the ministry were involved in discreet talks over the pay issue.

Yesterday, he said: "I don't want to give the impression that we are ready to negotiate with the union over how to implement the salaries. As far as the ministry is concerned, the matter has been put on hold until the economy can accommodate the increments," he said.

On the TSC Bill, Mr Musyoka said: "I believe the Bill is important because it will give me powers to meaningfully negotiate for better salaries for teachers within realistic limits. But if the teachers are opposed to the move, I will keep it in abeyance until there is a change of attitude."

The minister addressed the Press after he opened a workshop on recognition of studies and degrees at a Nairobi hotel.

The TSC Bill introduced mid- last year was shelved after teachers countrywide staged a three-day boycott protesting against it.

It sought to give more powers to the education minister to control teachers' salaries.

The Bill also gave the minister "the discretion to reject any recommended remuneration, the payment of which is not feasible in keeping with sound economic management".

It also provided "the framework for the renegotiation of the remuneration of teachers in the teachers' service in view of financial crisis facing the country".

But protesting teachers said it was drafted in bad faith and was aimed at helping the government renege on its pledge to give the teachers a salary raise of between 150 and 200 per cent.

He appealed to teachers to understand that the government could not afford the increment and asked them to await the recommendations of the commission to harmonise terms and conditions of service for all civil servants.

"We're currently struggling to see to it that teachers receive their salaries on time and we just cannot begin talking about increments when the present salaries are a problem to deliver," he said.

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