Members of the Catalan Government and higher-ranked staff will not receive the Christmas bonus

Barcelona (ACN).- The members of the Catalan Government and its higher-ranked staff will see their salary reduced once again. The Catalan President, Artur Mas, announced on Wednesday at the Catalan Parliament that the extra month’s salary given on Christmas would not be paid to the Cabinet members and higher governmental staff. The measure will affect 350 people in total, including Artur Mas and Catalan Government ministers, deputy ministers and directors-general, or people with an equivalent rank and salary. The measure is mainly aimed at sending a message of commitment and austerity, since it will only save 1.8 million euros. This payment cancellation is to be added to the 15% salary cut for Catalan Government members and higher-ranked officials, which was approved by the previous Government in 2010 and was maintained by the current administration.

With this announcement, Artur Mas has given a message to the doctors and nursing unions that yesterday were asking “politicians to reduce their salaries”. The unions made the petitions as there are ongoing negotiations about salary reductions for healthcare professionals in order to reduce spending on public health services. The Catalan Government is fighting public deficit and is reducing public spending in all governmental areas, although to different degrees. Healthcare is also affected, as currently the system is “unsustainable” according to the Catalan Minister of Health, Boi Ruiz. The Catalan Healthcare System, which is considered one of the best in the world, is going through a revision of its services, funding and structures currently in place, including human resources. Doctors and nursing unions have been protesting over the last number of weeks and are talking about going on strike. By reducing the salaries of members of the Catalan Government, Artur Mas wants to send a message to the unions to keep negotiations ongoing.