Police Planning Staff Cut for Pay Increase Move
The Police and Border Guard is planning to sack 100 staff with the aim of increasing the salaries of the rest of the force.
On top of the 100, a further 150 police officers are expected to quit the force for better-paying jobs this year, Eesti Päevaleht reported today.
“It is not acceptable that people who look after the safety of all people in Estonia suffer from poverty,” Elmar Vaher, the police chief said, adding that a policeman's job must be prestigious.
The aim is to increase the average monthly gross salary to 900 euros from the beginning of 2015 a sum that does not include extras such as compensation for night work. Currently the minimum is 775 euros and around half of the 4,000-strong police force receive less than 900 euros per month.
The minimum salary for police officers increased by 55 euros at the beginning of the year.
The number of police officers currently working a second job has doubled to 700 in the past year due to low salaries offered in the force.
Administrative jobs in Tallinn will be in the first in the firing line.