Salary adjustment

So much has been said about the salary adjustment. While many people are opposed to it over the perception that it imposes higher taxes, public sector employees and teachers think that an adjustment is long overdue. For one, their salaries have been adjusted only twice — in 2008 and 2012 — since 1997, and these salaries have failed to maintain their purchasing power. That is, the rise in prices of more than 120 percent over 20 years has eaten up part of their income in real terms, and reduced their standard of living. Public debate has simmered for five years over how to finance the salary adjustment bill. Twenty-two taxes were signed into law on August 21, but are currently under review by the Constitutional Council. They include an increase in VAT, stamp duty tax, an air transport exit fee, as well as capital gains on the disposal of fixed