The measure, as explained by Damaris Betancourt Machado, provincial director of Finances and Prices, has a clear central purpose: «to incentivise the retention of personnel» in sectors that have faced an exodus of labour force.

An economic relief, orderly and justified, will begin to be reflected in the pay slips of workers in the budgeted units of Ciego de Ávila, with the application, starting this month, of Agreement 10.199 of the Council of Ministers, published last August.

This will allow the redistribution of wage funds that have not been used, specifically allocating them to personnel who assume additional workloads due to vacancies or uncovered leave. The measure, as explained by Damaris Betancourt Machado, provincial director of Finances and Prices, has a clear central purpose: «to incentivise the retention of personnel» in sectors that have faced an exodus of labour force.

«The benefit, which includes the net payment and all associated tributes, reaches all budgeted units and all personnel, without distinction of category,» said Betancourt Machado.

Its implementation, however, demands a rigorous procedure. Each entity must elaborate its own regulations –with trade union participation– that establish the requirements and the periodicity of such payments.

These must derive from an objective evaluation, month by month, of the funds truly not used, to avoid compromising the budget. Although the general deployment is planned for December, the cultural sector in the municipalities of Ciego de Ávila and Venezuela already has pioneering experiences.

The official clarified that Education and Health already had similar mechanisms, therefore this agreement extends recognition for effort and work overload to the rest of the budgeted workers who sustain essential services for the province. (Author: Ortelio González Martínez)