The Ministry of Foreign Relations is reported to be adopting measures to reduce wasteful spending. In the process, however, the real working diplomats are feeling the delays in payment.
As reported in Diario Libre, the plan is for payments to diplomats to be made through the Controller General Office in two monthly installments, one for wages and representation costs and the other for living and other expenses. The measure seeks to reduce payroll expenditure on the grounds that in some consulates and embassies more than 50% of appointees do not work regularly and are merely beneficiaries of political patronage. Diario Libre says that the measures, nevertheless, are affecting the finances of genuine working diplomats.
Diario Libre reports that the government’s dilemma is that a large number of these political appointees are relatives of members of the Political Committee or Central Committee of the ruling PLD or closely associated with key members of the PRSC political party. Reportedly, there are “irritating privileges” of some “ghost diplomats” who receive three and four times their base wage of US$1,750 for other expenditures.
The diplomats have been requested to present their housing contracts in order to confirm they are living abroad. Ambassadors have also been asked to present a list of embassy staff members and their roles.
www.diariolibre.com/noticias/2014/03/24/i539511_malestar-relaciones-exteriores-por-pago-solo-del-salarios-viticos.html