The sacked Ombudsman of the Santa Casa da Misericordia de Lisboa, Ana Jorge, this Wednesday denied the Labor Minister’s accusations that the institution’s administrators had “benefited”, saying that this claim must be substantiated.
In an interview with RTP on Tuesday, Labor Minister Maria do Rosario Ramalho said that most Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa (SCML) workers receive the minimum wage, while managers’ salaries are much higher.
“Those at the table [da SCML] They were even increased, we were surprised. (…) They won themselves,” the minister criticized.
Asked by Radio Renacens (RR) if she acted for her own benefit, Ana Jorge replied: “Obviously not. And I deeply deny this assertion, and it is necessary to justify what her own benefit is.”
Speaking to reporters as part of the initiative in Lisbon, the supplier explained that the salary increase was the result of automatic renewal of public managers.
“We are equal to government managers, so this happens automatically and does not depend on us,” stressed Ana Jorge.
In her statements to RR, Ana Jorge emphasized that the year she led the institution “was a difficult year, a very difficult year,” and that she did “everything to ensure that Santa Casa continues to be Santa Casa for the benefit of the people.” people who supported.”
“We managed to maintain all activity, we carried out major internal reorganizations. Therefore, I will have the opportunity from today until eight days to explain and provide detailed data and information about everything that Mesa da Santa Casa did.
According to the fired supplier, the administration tried to maintain all activities, achieved positive budget execution and “tried to find solutions for workers, improving especially those with lower salaries.”
Regarding the minister’s criticism regarding wages, Ana Jorge explained that SCML entered into an agreement with the company that, according to the minister, should not have been implemented.
Ana Jorge said that at the first meeting with the minister, she told him that “she shouldn’t have done this, but there were no problems because the contract could be annulled.”
“These were words, so that says it all,” he stressed, saying that in parliament he would say “even more things.”
Ana Jorge told reporters that she has carried out a “reorganization of the chamber” and that she will present on Wednesday in the Assembly of the Republic “with figures” the results of the drawn up plan, which demonstrate “an increase in the amount of income in those areas where possible” and a reduction in expenses that Santa Casa .
He explained that the “reorganization of the house” was to “make it more functional, but in a way that it is always preserved and is not diminished in any way”, Santa Casa’s intervention in the social sphere and in support of children and young people from risk groups. , who even increased his skills and response ability.
Regarding the criticism of Maria do Rosario Ramalho, which accused her of “total inaction”, Ana Jorge commented to RR that she does not know how the “minister in 12 days” could reach such a conclusion, given that the minister is unlikely to have information. about all activities of Santa Casa.
In an interview, Maria do Rosario Ramalho said that she has “very solid grounds” for the decision to dismiss Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa (SCML) provider Ana Jorge, as well as the rest of the institution’s board of directors (administration). ).
“I even heard that it was a political purge. It was nothing,” assured the minister, who justified the dismissal of Ana Jorge “for managerial reasons,” accusing her of “complete inaction” in the face of the financial crisis situation. which she inherited from the previous administration, repeating what the government had already warned about the lack of a restructuring plan.
Ana Jorge took office on May 2, 2023, chosen by the previous socialist government of António Costa, and inherited an institution in serious financial difficulties after years of the pandemic and the process of internationalization of social games carried out by the administration of the provider Edmundo. Martinho, which could have caused losses of around 50 million euros.
Following her dismissal, on April 20, the provider wrote a letter to all SKML employees, accusing the government of dismissing her in a “rude, arrogant and slanderous manner” and that she was caught off guard.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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