MOD outlines Service Personnel Management Concept to improve Service conditions for active duty soldiers
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- Date: 17.12.2018
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In his statement on the adjustments to the Service conditions, Defence Minister Peter Gajdoš said: “Soldiers, the guarantors of security in our country, deserve adequate service pay and a quality social welfare system. At the same time, it holds true that modernization, training and welfare must be in equilibrium. The measures we have drafted are fully aligned with the SVK Government Manifesto and the SNS Party Manifesto.”
He went on to thank SNS Party/Parliamentary Chairman Andrej Danko for his help in pushing through the proposal for 13th and 14th salaries to all service members and civilians in Defence, thanks to which they have received the extra salaries at the end of this year already.
As General Secretary of the MOD Service Office Ján Hoľko noted, under the new pay arrangements the minimum pay for an active duty soldier should reach the average monthly salary in the national economy. “After the 10-percent indexation, the salaries will rise by approx. another 30 per cent,” he explained and emphasised that the remuneration of active duty soldiers will not be based on the rank but on their official appointment. Nevertheless, the differential of rank-based salaries will remain at approx. 8 per cent.
As of today, a 2nd Degree Private serving up to 1 year earns €707.50, whereas he will earn €778.25 after the 10-percent indexation as from January 2019. And with additional changes included, his service pay will go up by an additional €300. In the case of the most junior officer rank – lieutenant, the service pay, which amounts to €1,073 today, will rise up to €1,575 after the indexation and pay increase.
The MOD has already been in negotiation with the Ministry of Finance over the change to the pay particulars, with the intention of covering the cost of the increased pay from the allocated 2019 Defence budget. The announced changes will be worked into the Service Personnel Management Concept. If approved by Parliament, the changes will take effect from mid-2019.
