PM Briceño: Increment Freeze Was Discussed with Unions

John Briceño

The Briceño administration has made its position official on what public finances will not be spent on, now that it has reinstituted the ten percent salary that had been withheld from teachers and public officers for a year. A circular sent out by the Ministry of Finance on August third, makes it clear that government will not be engaged in new hiring, creating posts or filling vacant ones, and approving salary advances and new allowances. It will also not engage in workshops and non-essential purchasing of supplies.  Earlier today, the prime minister indicated that the freeze on increments for public officers and teachers cannot be lifted simultaneously with the resumption of their full pay that took effect in July.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“What we spoke about is an increment freeze for three years, and a salary cut for three years. What we did was, despite not getting out of the woods, we felt that if we tightened our belts a little more and ensure that we increased collections, we could start off by giving (back) the ten percent and that is what we have done. We’ve given them the ten percent two years ahead of what we agreed to.”