The Panamanian government has spent $2.580 million in salaries for civil servants from January to August this year, 10% more than had been reported in the first eight months of 2017.

According to figures from the Office of the General Comptroller between January and August 2017 and the same period this year, the expenditure on salaries for civil servants increased by $241 million, from $2,339 million to $2,580 million.

The report of the Comptroller’s Office details that the accumulated Gross Salary of the Public Sector payroll in August 2018 reached $335.3 million, of which $315.4 million are for permanent employees and $19.9 million for temporary employees.

Prensa.com reports that the amount expended in the first eight months of the year “… Compared with the same period of 2014, the year in which this administration was placed, the difference is $926 million or 56%, due to the fact that between January and August 2014 the accumulated salary of the government payroll was one thousand 653 million dollars.”

The article adds that “… In June 2014, just before the current administration began, the government payroll was formed by 208,682 civil servants. So far in government the payroll has reached 26,681 employees or 12.8%.”

See comptroller’s report. (In Spanish)