The Minister of Social Development (MIDES), the socialist Gonzalo Civila, decided that a large part of the ministry's employees, instead of working eight hours a day as they have until now, will work only six, but will continue receiving payment for eight.
Union pressure
Civila gave in to the ministry's union, which is led by radicals who for years have demanded to work less and earn higher salaries.
The measure taken by the minister is completely demagogic and wasteful of public resources.
Disregard for taxpayers
The measure taken by the Socialist Party minister is a true disregard for taxpayers who pay their taxes.
As is obvious, MIDES is funded by the taxes that Uruguayans pay.
The salaries of the employees are paid by taxpayers who make an effort to pay the high taxes that exist in Uruguay.
The socialist minister, showing a total lack of empathy toward Uruguayans who pay their tax obligations on time, decides to favor the employees of that ministry.
Civila's gesture is not minor. It shows the character of a statist policy that squanders taxpayers' money and wastes it according to the preferences of those in government.
