B.D.F. Soldier Says His Salary is Not Enough

Are B.D.F. soldiers earning enough to make ends meet? That’s the question we asked B.D.F. Commandant, Brigadier General Azariel Loria, last Friday after the latest batch of recruits graduated. While Loria assured us that the salaries are sufficient, News Five received a WhatsApp message and a digital copy of a pay slip from a concerned soldier. In his message to the Prime Minister, the soldier expressed his struggles with his salary, especially around Christmastime when he can’t afford gifts for his children. He mentioned his ten years of service and the issue of frozen increments, accusing Brigadier General Loria of not advocating enough for better pay and rations. However, Loria maintained that the salaries are fair and will be adjusted.

 

Brig. Gen. Azariel Loria, Commandant, B.D.F.

“Our salaries has been reviewed at the moment and it’s not only for the BDF but also for Coast Guard. And, also, I believe that there were some allowances approved to the air wing pilots and to the whole of the BDF to start to draw jungle and bush allowances. So it is something that the government is looking into. And I know that, with this, the level of cooperation that we are having from government, it is something very positive that all of us are looking into and seeing the results. No, it’s not a pay increase. We’re not getting a pay raise. It’s an adjustment where we’re looking in ways in which our pay scale could be adjusted because of that minimum wage that came into effect.”