Summary:
Hélder Rosalino to receive €15,905 monthly as Secretary-General, same as his previous role at BdP.
The Bank of Portugal will not cover his salary due to Eurosystem rules.
Legislation requires an agreement for the bank to assume salary costs, which is not in place.
Rosalino's salary is over 160% of the legal limit for his position.
The new office aims to save the state €4.1 million annually by merging entities.
Salary Details of Hélder Rosalino
Hélder Rosalino, the new Secretary-General of the Government, is set to earn €15,905 per month—the same amount he received as a consultant at the Bank of Portugal (BdP). However, the BdP governor, Mário Centeno, has clarified that the bank will not cover any expenses related to Rosalino's salary due to Eurosystem rules prohibiting such payments.
In a statement released on Saturday, the BdP confirmed that Centeno communicated this information to the government when informally contacted about the matter. According to existing legislation, for the bank to assume the salary, it would require an agreement, which has not been finalized. Reports suggest that Centeno initially indicated willingness to pay Rosalino's salary, but this was not confirmed later.
Reimbursement and Social Security Contributions
The BdP mentioned that it is the responsibility of the Secretary-General's office to reimburse the bank for any social security contributions processed directly. This means that while the BdP may continue to pay certain social security benefits to Rosalino during his term, they expect to be reimbursed.
Comparison with Other Government Salaries
Contrastingly, other government officials have had their salaries covered by their original institutions, as seen with Marco Teresa, an advisor to the government. Notably, Rosalino's salary exceeds that of the Prime Minister, who earns around €8,600 after a 5% cut. Rosalino's compensation is over 160% of the legal limit for his newly created position, as he is allowed to choose his originating salary.
Organizational Changes
The establishment of this new office aims to achieve savings within the Public Administration. The Prime Minister's office announced that the new support structure for the government is a result of merging nine entities, which will reduce the number of management positions by 25%, resulting in an estimated €4.1 million savings for the state annually. This restructuring is expected to enhance resource efficiency and service quality.
Background on Hélder Rosalino
Hélder Rosalino, age 56, previously served as the Secretary of State for Public Administration under Pedro Passos Coelho. He holds a degree in Business Organization and Management from ISCTE and has further qualifications in Taxation and Management. Rosalino will be joined in this new role by other key officials, including Fátima Ferreira and Filipe Pereira.
Article updated with clarifications from the Bank of Portugal confirming it will not bear any salary expenses for Hélder Rosalino.
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