The World Bank does not agree with the government’s intention to raise public sector salaries and pensions, says WB Country Manager for Serbia Tony Verheijen.
According to Tanjug, Verheijen “agrees that there are public sector employees who are underpaid.”
“We do not agree with a general salary increase, but if the government would focus on decisions to raise salaries for people who, objectively speaking, are underpaid, that would aid the process of implementing reforms in the public sector,” Verheijen told the RTV on Thursday.
Speaking about companies under restructuring, he confirmed that the Serbian government has requested World Bank assistance in restructuring Srbijagas.
The government has asked for our assistance in the financial restructuring of Srbijagas, and we requested that the government undertake certain obligations before we begin our engagement in that company, in particular, those related to Srbijagas debts and assets, he said.
The World Bank wants to get the actual picture of the situation in the company and has requested that the reconstruction plan also include measures that would divide the business management, Verheijen added.
He said that the directors of the companies under restructuring are the main obstructors of reforms and that he hopes that the number of public sector employees who are surplus to requirements will become clear by the end of the year.
Source; B92
