The Government Council established a public sector austerity plan that freezes the government payroll and establishes a reduction of 10% on salaries of government officers, including those with positions in autonomous and decentralized institutions. Earlier, President Hipólito Mejía had announced a 40% cut in salaries, starting with his own, but apparently this did not appeal to the new government officers, thus the reduction will only be 10%. President Mejía said his salary will be RD$70,000. President Fernández made RD$90,000 a month. The Government Council also ruled that no government officer, including those at the head of autonomous institutions, will make wages beyond the RD$70,000 paid to the President. The measure is said to encompass officers at Indotel, Central Bank, Civil Aviation Board and other institutions whose top officers make much more than RD$70,000. The measure apparently will not affect the Judicial Branch nor the Legislative Branch. The 10% reduction will become part of a "Fondo de Lucha Contra la Pobreza," a fund that seeks to reduce poverty. As part of the austerity plan, the government also restricted restaurant-going by government officers, as well as the use of cellular phones.
