SNS Supports Police Trade Union, Proposes Suspending Service Pensions for MPs

Bratislava, 17 February (TASR) - The junior coalition Slovak National Party (SNS) has expressed its support for the police trade union regarding concerns over a reduction in salaries within the security and rescue services, while supporting the view that MPs shouldn't be receiving a state-service pension at the same time, thereby enabling the state to save money, TASR has learnt from the SNS chairman's office head Zuzana Skopcova. "It's shameful that some police officers aren't paid decent salaries by the state, whereas others who receive service pensions while simultaneously serving as MPs enjoy a net income of around €10,000 [per month]. People who are MPs shouldn't be receiving service pensions at the same time," stated SNS, which hopes to find support in Parliament both for the indexation of salaries within the Police Corps as well as for suspending the payment of service pensions to MPs. The police trade union in Slovakia, along with other trade unions representing other security and rescue services, drew attention last Wednesday (11 February) to a reduction in the real salaries of members of the Police Corps, Fire and Rescue Corps and Prison and Judicial Guard Corps due to the increased tax burden that came into effect as of the beginning of this year. According to police union chairman Peter Jakubik, the net salaries of police officers and firefighters fell by tens to hundreds of euros in January. In its response, the Interior Ministry stated that it plans to address salaries in the Police Corps this year, adding that there was no room for such measures last year due to consolidation efforts. jrg/df