Press Secretary Angel A. Demapan announced last night that government employees not considered “critical” will not get their salary tomorrow.
And although the administration plans to pay them on Wednesday next week, Demapan said they cannot guarantee the release of paychecks because it will depend on the availability of cash.
Compared to the two previous payless Fridays that occurred in June and last month, Demapan said the government is now facing “the worst scenario.”
Demapan said he received the bad news from the Department of Finance at 4 p.m. yesterday.
Employees in critical services such as public education, public safety, public health as well those federally funded will get paid.
Demapan said hopefully, by Wednesday next week, the rest of the government employees will get their salary.
He said although the current government workforce is composed only of “essential” personnel listed in the governor’s executive order due to the government shutdown, not all of them are considered critical.
“Critical personnel are different from the essential personnel listed for the shutdown period,” Demapan said.
This means that the paychecks of many of those working during the shutdown will still be delayed, he added.
“We want to make this announcement so the people can prepare for the delay once again,” Demapan said.
