Government defends raise to ministers' political aides

The Office of the Prime Minister has justified higher salaries for the government’s top aides, saying the cost of political staff at ministries will not increase. The move raises by some €3,000 a year the aides’ basic salaries compared with their predecessors. The OPM said the upgrade was part of a reorganisation of secretariats, which includes shedding two officials from each ministry. Chiefs of staff  will now also be responsible for consultants employed with their ministries and the staff of parliamentary secretaries. The Chief of Staff at the OPM, and the Head of Government Communication (who was scaled up from scale 4 to scale 3) will still earn a gross salary that is around 10 per cent less than their predecessors because they are getting less allowances, the OPM said. Scale 4 is €30,668 and scale 3 is  €33,853. Allowances can raise the gross package by €10,000. More details in The Sunday Times. mmicallef@timesofmalta.com