Minute by minute: Government announces layoff of 16,470 public employees

On September 25, 2009, Primera Hora covered minute by minute the announcement by the Junta de Reestructuración y Estabilización Fiscal (JREF) — Carlos García (BGF), Juan Carlos Puig (Hacienda), María Sánchez Bras (OGP) and José Pérez-Riera (DDEC) — on the second round of layoffs under Law 7.

García said the round’s impact would be 16,470 public employees: 16,970 letters would be sent, but 500 posts would go to Hacienda (audit/collection); he alleged a net impact of no more than 13,774 at the end of the process, and that ultimately layoffs would be “fewer than 14,000.” He stated that 99% of the 16,470 were career employees and that, from a universe of ~54,000, average seniority was around 13 years.

Miguel Romero (Labor) spoke of $37 million the next year to subsidize new private-sector jobs, WIA centers, and Triple-S medical insurance for those laid off. Fortuño, in a televised message, cited a $3,200 million deficit “that we found” and said he would not allow raising the IVU or imposing a new excise.

Héctor Ferrer (PPD) called the announcement “nefarious and infamous”; Rivera Schatz and Jenniffer González lamented the layoffs and blamed the prior administration. Ombudsperson Rosana López refused to sign letters for 111 Aging Affairs employees.

Layoff announcement / letters ≠ works disbursement. Deficit cited by the Executive ≠ adjudicated theft. Net impact alleged by JREF ≠ independent audited figure in this note.

Source: Primera Hora. https://www.primerahora.com/noticias/gobierno-politica/notas/minuto-a-minuto-gobierno-anuncia-el-despido-de-16470-empleados-publicos/