After reaching an agreement between Town meeting and the rest of the official parties in the Accountability – regarding the increase in salaries for all military positions – the Minister of Defense, Javier Garciaassured that he is very satisfied with the salary increase for the armed forces.
The minister visited the squadron of Army from Rivera, this being the last in its tour of military units throughout the country. The leader highlighted the role of the senators, the coalition and the ministry regarding the demands of the party led by Guido Manini Rios who committed the government to increase military salaries otherwise, otherwise, he would vote against in the plenary session of the Account surrenders.
García assured that the Ministry of Defence He was the one who contributed more than half of the budget for the salary increase. “We have reached an amount of US$58,000,000 of incremental salary mass that was added to the salaries they had, starting with the soldiers who are the lowest personnel on the scale and most neglected,” the minister explained.
In that sense, García stressed that “the entire coalition has made a commitment that was part of an electoral campaign and one can say: a commitment that was fulfilled.” Therefore, he assured that “we can move forward” and that in the future “we have to move forward.”
How will Armed Forces salaries change?
The agreement sealed between Town meeting and the government, through its representatives in the negotiations: the white senator Rodrigo Blas and the director of Public Finance, Fernando Blancoimplies an increase in the salaries received by the lowest ranks of the military ranks.
Thus, from soldiers to the rank of colonel they will receive an improvement of 1,000 pesos in their salaries, which represents an increase of 406 million pesos in the amount for that purpose.
The benefits that the military have access to could increase even more if the negotiations that the Executive will hold today and Town meeting to finish polishing the agreement.
The lobbyists demand, in addition to the salary increase, improved payments for nocturnality and for night shifts of more than 5 hours, reinforce mental health care for Armed forces and provide greater economic resources to Police Hospital. In total, these provisions require expenses of 610 million pesos.
How much do the military earn in Uruguay?
According to data from the Ministry of Defense corresponding to the month of last January, the salaries of the Armed forces In real nominal terms they are the following:
- 2nd Cape: 34,945 pesos
- 1st Sergeant: 54,702 pesos
- 1st Lieutenant: 80,375 pesos
- Colonel: 165,633 pesos
- General: 196,707 pesos
- Commander in chief: 234,146 pesos
Currently, the total annual Defense budget is almost 30,000 million pesos, of which 78% is allocated to salaries. Salaries in the Ministry of Defense are 9% of total salary expenditure (Central Administration + 220 agencies).
Source: Ambito
