The Saturday, 27 December edition of the Diario Libre reported that the Postal Service, the Social Security Institute, the Public Health Ministry and the Education Ministry have not received their salaries for two months. According to the report, these government employees have not received their checks for November or December. According to Pastora Mendes, the National Treasurer, delays in the payrolls from the various agencies have resulted in the delay in payments to these agencies. Several employees questioned by Diario Libre reporters said that this was an unusual situation and that when they got their Christmas bonuses, otherwise known as “the thirteenth salary”, they were promised that the situation would be corrected shortly.