Legislators and members of the board of directors would not enjoy an increased salary for at least two years with the new fiscal plan. The legislators that make up the commission that analyzes the subject agreed to freeze eventual increases in remunerations for these officials and therefore approved on Wednesday two motions in that regard.
The motions also cover the President of the Republic, the vice presidents, ministers and hierarchies of public institutions, but a directive signed by President Carlos Alvarado on June 1st already established a wage freeze for these officials.
The proposals arose from motions by Frente Amplio legislator José María Villalta. Currently, a legislator earns around 4 million colones.
On Wednesday, the commission began to study the background of the motion, despite the fact that on Tuesday they refused to discuss the substitute text of the fiscal plan presented by the government.
This means that the motions they are discussing apply to the old text; that is, the first one, presented by the previous administration. However, the idea is that those motions in which there is agreement are included in a new substitute text that would reach the Congress on August 2nd, negotiated between the Executive and the legislators.
I will never agree to freeze the salaries of the workers, these should increase at least to the rhythm of inflation, but when it comes to high hierarchies a greater sacrifice is justified,”
said Villalta.
Walter Muñoz, from National Integration, agreed with the proposal, although he assured that it rather falls short, because he believes that a cut should be applied to the remunerations of the high commands.
The salary freeze in which all the members of the commission present on Wednesday agree (only National Restoration was missing) would also apply to those officials who earn more than 4 million colones. However, there are initiatives to maintain the exemptions for CCSS, the Red Cross, and the Fire Departments.