The Ministry of Social Development (Mides) has a debt of more than Q40 million for lost wages. The official version of the portfolio is that for now they do not have the budget to cover the payments, and readjustments or expansions will be sought to achieve solvency.
“In 2016 there were massive layoffs in the Ministry. If I’m not wrong, around 500 people had their contracts terminated, and we are having that wave right now, of all those reinstatements of people who at some point went to fight in his job in the judicial field,” announced the Minister of Social Development, Abelardo Pinto.
The total amount that must be paid according to the judge’s order is Q40 million 145 thousand 066. According to Pinto’s version, in the first year of Jimmy Morales’ government there were layoffs in the portfolio and people sued Mides, demanding reinstatement. in the position and the salaries that they have not received since they were removed from office until their reinstatement.
For the reinstatements of these people, Pinto said that depending on the judge’s order, it is done in the specific position or, in other cases, they are placed where there are available positions.
“In some cases, I must say, we have appealed to the conscience of the people who have won that trial at the time,” said Pinto, explaining that they negotiate with the workers who already receive their compensation so that they give up the right to a job. and only collect the money ordered by the judge.
The minister also stated that the portfolio’s budget is not enough to make judicial rulings effective, so processes will be carried out with the Ministry of Finance to be able to make payments with some budget transfers.
“We have to carry out all the administrative procedures with the Ministry of Finance to be able to pay them. That is a judicial obligation. So, we have to comply with it no matter what,” said Pinto.
Building leasing
Pinto also stated that the change of location of the offices is being analyzed, which is currently in zone 9, and houses regarding a thousand people, but the rent is high and is not in line with market prices, according to the version. of the head of the portfolio.
A little more than Q1 million 200 thousand is paid per month, annually the amount rises to Q15 million. According to him, at the moment, buildings are being considered in different areas of the capital, including zones 9 and 13. The new contract was set for one year, that is, until 2025, but with the option of finishing it earlier, while seeking the new location.
“We even tried to negotiate the possibility of buying the building, however, the owners are not willing to sell. We also tried to renegotiate the rent to stay here, but with a rent more in line with the market value and they did not agree either,” he detailed.
Minister Pinto stressed that they will seek to obtain property so that the portfolio has permanent facilities.
“We are evaluating possibilities of purchasing another building or land to be able to build, to be able to take out a loan and this money that we pay in rent is better paid as a payment to a loan that the Ministry can make to the different entities
State finances to leave
facilities that are their own and that are permanent,” he said.
The leases of the headquarters in the departments are also being analyzed to determine if an extra price is being paid in the respective rent.
Legal reforms
Analyst Jorge Lavarreda, from the National Economic Research Center (Cien), indicated that the court rulings affect the ministries and that even people with temporary contracts have won the lawsuits.
“A comprehensive reform of the civil service is really required, which goes beyond just the legal issue. Vertical and horizontal equity reforms are also needed,” he said.
The analyst considers that paying these lost salaries sacrifices the budget, which might be used for investment. Furthermore, he believes that when reinstating people there may be duplication of functions.
Regarding the purchase of a property for the ministry, Lavarreda commented that it is necessary to optimize resources and even analyze the possibility of teleworking for employees to whom it can be applied.
According to the Integrated Accounting System (Sincoin), Mides has a budget of Q1,428 million, and so far this year it only reports 3 percent of execution. In Lavarreda’s opinion, this is normal, considering that these are the first months of the minister’s administration.
“But the programs that are for the population do need to advance, especially in that ministry, whose target population is people and situations of poverty and extreme poverty,” added the analyst.
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