Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic said on Thursday that last week's increase of salary scales for heads of several government agencies, which has provoked a public outcry, was done at his initiative because public-sector executives who cannot receive bonuses should be properly rewarded for their work.
"My message to all the hypocrites who lashed out at this decision is that far more pay scales have been lowered than increased, much more money has been saved than spent, and those salaries are still lower than those of the opposition MPs who made the malicious comments," Milanovic said at a meeting of his Cabinet.
"I will not let anyone's work being underestimated as long as any reserves exist. I will not raise my voice because others do, but will repeat the facts: total spending and the number of office-holders have been reduced, the Minister of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure has halved the number of office-holders in his ministry, and salaries and pay scales have been lowered in a number of public services and agencies," he said, adding that this decision was long overdue.
