State to cut over 17,500 jobs - several ministries say targets are impossible
|
|
|
A decision by the government earlier this year to cut costs in public administration could lead to the elimination of 17,500 jobs in six years. Under the plan, only half of state employees who retire, or who leave for other reasons, would be replaced.
The different ministries have been given instructions on the numbers of jobs they are expected to shed, depending on how many people are leaving by 2011.
A total of 36,000 state employees are expected to leave during that time. The plans have led to an outcry within the various ministries.
The need to cut personnel varies in the different fields between 12% and 19%.
In strictly numerical terms, the greatest need for personnel reductions is with the Ministry of Education, which is expected to cut its personnel by nearly 6,000. Also facing sharp cutbacks are the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Defence.
In addition to being expected to trim nearly 2,400 jobs, the Ministry of Defence is required by the government’s defence policy report of 2004 to reduce its personnel by 1,200. Officials at the ministry are not sure if the jobs to be cut in the government’s cost-cutting measures include the target set in the defence policy report.
The Ministry of the Interior is to eliminate 2,403 jobs. Minister of the Interior Kari Rajamäki (SDP) says that no police officers, Frontier Guards, or emergency telephone exchange personnel would be sacked. These groups comprise nearly two thirds of the 18,050 people employed by the ministry.
"It is an impossible situation for us to cut the remaining 7,000 by more than 2,400 people", says Jukka Aalto, head of finances at the ministry.
The reasons for the planned cuts include growing expenses caused by changes in the age structure of the population. Resources from other sectors are to be shifted principally into social services and health care.
Helsingin Sanomat
|
| 7.9.2005 - TODAY |
 State to cut over 17,500 jobs - several ministries say targets are impossible
|
|
