THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL of the social security provider Sociálna Poisťovňa (SP) Ivan Bernátek had been on course for a tidy bonus this year. In February SP's supervisory board had proposed to pay him a bonus of almost Sk788,000. However, government spokesperson Silvia Glendová has now said that Prime Minister Robert Fico will block the payment, according to the Hospodárske Noviny financial daily. Bonus payments to SP directors are subject to approval by the government.
Bernátek had been in line to receive a bonus for 2007 equal to seven times his monthly salary, which is currently Sk112,566.
"We think that this bonus is adequate with regards to the competences and functions of the director general," the Labour Ministry's spokesperson, Michal Stuška told the paper.
The proposed bonus was more than half the maximum allowed. The law on social insurance permits an annual bonus payment to the director-general of the social security provider of up to twelve times his or her monthly salary.
