The Center for Public Integrity (CIP) considers "insignificant? the cuts in salaries of state leaders, aimed at curbing pay spending.

The reductions in the salaries of deputies, ministers and other public office holders and of the administration of justice, within the scope of the Single Wage Scale (TSU) were approved by consensus and definitively by the Portuguese Parliament on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, for the CIP, cutting the salaries of top State officials is a necessary measure to lower the State's salary bill, which is currently unsustainable. ?however, the cuts proposed by the Government are insignificant to achieve this goal? says economist Estrela Charles.

According to the economist, the proposal to reduce the salaries of the sovereign bodies and top state leaders will allow a reduction in the payroll of a little over 1.4 billion meticais per year, but the government needs to cut at least 12.3 billion meticais per year.

Nevertheless, the CIP believes that the government structure should be reduced, eliminating some functions and institutions that make the salary mass high, pointing out also that there is a disparity in the reduction of individual salaries of the different holders of state bodies.

?the poor projection of government spending, coupled with the high salaries of the sovereign bodies and members of public bodies, meant that salaries were being executed above budget? he concluded.