The Prime Minister emphasized that the government was not planning to lay off any civil servants, but that it was up to the individual ministries and state institutions to decide how to save the money. He said that the options were to not replace people who go into retirement, agree on slightly lower salaries for all or slash whole departments and relegate their tasks to others. He also noted that the government was open to suggestions from the public sector on how to save money.
The Prime Minister’s comments come as the government is looking to save 20 billion crowns in the public sector by cutting back on salaries and operating costs. While the Prime Minister has said that the government is not planning to lay off any civil servants, it is clear that some may be affected by the proposed cuts. It remains to be seen how the government and the public sector will work together to find a solution that is beneficial for both sides.