The PCP wants overdue military promotions to be paid retroactively and the armed forces redeployment system updated, accusing the government of “propaganda talk” over the issue.
These two proposals to amend the 2024 state budget were presented by the PCP on the day that Defense Minister Helena Carreiras will be heard in Parliament as part of a hearing on the budget.
Speaking to Lusa, PCP deputy João Dias said that currently contracted or permanent service members in the armed forces are often promoted at the beginning of the year, but only receive the corresponding salary update after publication.
That “It often means that the military waits a few months for it to be published in the Diário da República. This causes losses and often continues so that it easily amounts to two or three thousand euros, taking into account the months that are late”he said.
In its proposal to amend the 2024 state budget, the PCP therefore proposes that promotions will take place “retroactive effect, namely for reward purposes, referring to the date of seniority, regardless of when it occurs”.
“What we have put forward is the most basic fairness: from the moment a soldier moves to a new position, this also has an impact on his salary”said João Dias.
These delays in promotions have been repeatedly denounced by military professional associations since 2011. This year, in April, the government announced that the promotion plan in the armed forces for 2023 had been approved, with a total of 5,825 personnel.
In addition to this measure, the PCP also proposes that the government update the redistribution system for armed forces soldiers and their respective subsidies. “to create a fair salary balance between military personnel of different ranks”.
In this proposal, the party proposes that this update be carried out in dialogue with professional military associations, “guarantee their right to representation and collective bargaining, in particular in the areas of remuneration and their professional status”.
Speaking to Lusa, João Dias indicated that the redistribution system has not been updated since 2009, creating a situation of “absolutely unacceptable injustice of income stagnation,” and said the PCP proposal also aims to “supplement the military status.”
The communist deputy expressed concern that there “profound differences between allowances and military wage components”with cases where a “the highest rank receives, in addition to military conditions, equal to or more than the salary of other military personnel in lower ranks”.
“It is a situation that is causing discontent within the armed forces and the government must put an end to it once and for all.”he defended.
João Dias insisted that these two measures would provide “a new condition of preservation and attractiveness for the army and a new satisfaction” and believed that the government’s statements on this issue are “pure propaganda”.
“What we still understand is that the government is not interested in valuing the military in the same way it claims to be. If they were actually interested, they would create the conditions for more young people to enter military life and increase the value of military life. military career. That’s not what we see”he said.
João Dias argued that both the issue of promotions and supplementing military status are “fundamental for improving careers” and would be “very much in line with what military professionals preach.”
Source: DN
