Ecuador’s government increases police and military salaries

Quito, October 5, 2010.- The government of Ecuador announced Monday a significant increase in salaries for police and military.

Defense Minister Javier Ponce and Interior Minister Gustavo Jalkh unveiled a wage increase between $ 400 and $ 570. It is for a wage equalization policy undertaken by the government and will be paid retroactively from January 2010.”

The increase for the period January to September this year will be canceled in the coming days, while the October payment will be paid with the wage increase.”

“A captain who now earns $ 1,600, with wage equalization will receive U.S. $ 2,140, while a Mayor who now earns U.S. $ 1,870 will receive U.S. $ 2,280,” Ponce said.

“The wage increase for police and military announced on Monday is not related to the uprising police last Thursday.”

“Since August, the president was very emphatic in saying that this recognition had to be taken because there had been an inconsistency, an injustice in the approval process (…) It is unfortunate that the dates have been agreed, but it is an issue that was previously defined.”

“Regarding the subsidies eliminated by the Public Service Act, which took effect Monday, will remain until December this year,” he said.