Hungary’s defense minister, Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky, and state secretary of the Interior Ministry, Bence Rétvári, promised fair wages for the military, police and ‘border hunters’ at a press conference in Budapest on Saturday.
Rétvári said the war in Ukraine and global economic difficulties pointed to increasing migration pressure, and the armed forces, including the “border hunter” unit to be set up within the police force, would have a key role in managing this.
State secretary Bence Rétvári. Photo by Anikó Kovács/MTI
Bence Rétvári stressed that not only are the number of illegal migrants increasing, but also that arms smugglers are becoming more violent. A few days ago, a “gang war” broke out not far from Hungary’s southern border, he emphasized.
This is why it is important for “border hunters” to protect the southern border and for the police officers deployed there to protect the safety of the Hungarian people in their original location of service.
“Border hunters” will be paid gross monthly 300,000 forints (EUR 750) during their training and 400,000 forints (EUR 1000) afterwards, Rétvári revealed.
The state secretary added that non-commissioned police officers will get a wage increase of 30-44 percent on average from September 1, and police officers’ wages will be raised by 18-25 percent. From September, police officers starting their career will earn gross 510,000 forints (EUR 1270) per month compared with the previous 393,000 forints.
Defense Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky also stressed that there is a “bloody and unending” war in neighboring Ukraine and that pressure is also increasing on the southern border.
Therefore, the defense minister recently gave orders to increase the readiness of the Hungarian Defense Forces.
Defense minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky. Photo via Szalay-Bobrovniczky’s official Facebook page.
It is important that soldiers can return to the training ground from their assignments defending against the coronavirus epidemic in hospitals and illegal migration on the southern border, and prepare to ” resume their military profession at the highest level,” he said.
Szalay-Bobrovniczky said wages in the military will be increased in two stages, in September and in January 2024. Accordingly, the wage of a novice private soldier will rise from gross monthly 280,343 forints to 399,180 forints in September, and to 439,098 in January. The salary of a novice sergeant will be raised from 375,064 forints to 421,834 forints in September, and to 509,287 forints in January, the minister said.
“Peace requires strength,” said Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky, adding that “the soldiers can count on the Hungarian government, and the Hungarian people can count on the Hungarian Defense Forces.”
Meanwhile, according to a recent statement, the government will provide a total of nearly 52 billion forints this year for the wage hike of military, police and ‘border hunters.’
via MTI
Featured photo via Interior Ministry/MTI
