Police Announce 250 Sackings to Increase Salaries of Others
The 5,400-strong Police and Border Guard Board said they will sack 70 employees in the next few months and up to 250 this year, nearly triple the initial plan.
The cutbacks will affect office workers, not officers patrolling the streets, Martin Luige, the police's head of communication, told Postimees today.
The police said a few months ago they are planning to sack 100 staff, a move which would allow them to increase salaries of other employees. The aim is to find the necessary 4.8 million euros to increase the minimum wage in the service to 900 euros. The current minimum is 775 euros gross monthly.
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. And 150 officers also leave the job each year in search of better pay.
In 2010, when the police and border guard were united, 1,200 support staff were employed, now that figure is set to go below 600 by the end of the year.