6 of each 10 CNFL employees earning more than ¢ 1 million

Nearly 400 people earn higher salaries to ¢ 2 million per month

A switchboard Power and Light receives six times more than one of RACSA

July 16th, 2015

Six out of 10 officials of the National Power and Light Company (CNFL) receive a higher salary ¢ 1 million.

Of the nearly 2,200 employees of the metropolitan power distributor, they accrued 1,250 six-digit salaries in May.

The average salary is ¢ 1.3 million in this company, owned by the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE).

A group of almost 400 people earning more than ¢ 2 million per month. Such is the case of one of the 31 phone operators CNFL perceived ¢ 2.6 million, almost nine times the minimum wage for that occupation.

The same applies to a bookbinder who has a salary of ¢ 2.4 million while a welder receives ¢ 1.2 million and building a pawn, just over a ¢ 1 million.

The minimum wage for those three positions in the private sector not exceeding ¢ 320,000, according to the Ministry of Labour.

The highest salaries are officials who hold the headquarters. The highest compensation is ¢ 5.6 million. At least six of them earn more than the maximum chief, general manager, Victor Solis, whose salary is around ¢ 5 million.

In the Company only 200 employees (9%) earn less than ¢ 500,000 monthly. It is 49 ¢ Miscellaneous receiving 428,000, although that position is a person who earns more than ¢ 1.1 million. In the private sector, such personnel do not receive more than ¢ 300,000.

This follows the return of the CNFL reported to the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS), in May 2015. These data were provided to the Nation by the libertarian deputy, Otto Guevara.

Reasons. Jorge Pacheco, interim CEO Power and Light, he said the difference in the salaries of the CNFL, with respect to the private sector, is due to the bonuses that are paid to the state, such as annuities and dedication.

The chief also attributed the situation to the formula that was used for years to calculate annuities in the CNFL. He explained that instead of defining the additional benefits over the base salary, bonuses to gross wages were estimated, which generated a rapid rise in wages.

Pacheco said the payroll reported to CCSS in May may have some inconsistencies, as some employees were paid less because they were disabled or leave without pay.

Others said the manager, were reported more because they are compensated for vacation days that they would not use. Such is the case of an area coordinator, who received ¢ 4.3 million for accrued vacation and ¢ 1.9 million school salary. In the end, I won ¢ 10.9 million in May.

However, Pacheco recognized that wages are high and represent a "significant" cost to the institution which closed 2014 with a deficit of ¢ 6,200 million and needed help ICE to meet its debts. Salaries represent 13% of operating expenses.

Read more: 'La Nación'