The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has contemplated ¢19 million to make economic compensation to diplomats who move from one location to another. This was stated by Epsy Campbell, head of the institution, during the defense of the ordinary budget for 2019 before the Committee on Finance Affairs on Tuesday afternoon.
Campbell was questioned by legislator Eduardo Cruickshank from National Restoration, who initially asked her if that entity had a collective agreement, since the item the Chancellor was defending had other purposes.
Cruickshank explained that the item of ¢19 million said that it was strictly to “help officials to pay for glasses, prostheses, brushes, births.”
We are talking about different things (in the same item),”
said the restorationist.
However, the Chancellor explained that this item is used for economic compensation, which is at most one salary. At the hearing, the hierarch was also asked which diplomats have the privilege of rent payment. Campbell argued that only the one in Washington receives that benefit, because a series of criteria from the Attorney General’s Office settled that decision.
The Minister explained that the budget of the institution is consumed by salaries and social contributions in 66% of the total, while the operating expenses of what is spent in Costa Rica includes 10%.
As for the offices abroad, they account for 17% of the budget and the contribution to international organizations 7%.