This Thursday five officials were dismissed from the Ministry of Science, including two department heads, an IT manager, an administration and finance professional, and a photographer from the communications area.
The dismissals affect workers under the contrata regime and honorarios contracts. Four of them had to choose between signing a resignation to access vacation benefits or accepting dismissal without that benefit.
The measure revives the controversy that led to the resignation of former undersecretary Rafael Araos in May. Araos had denounced a mass dismissal plan ordered by Minister Ximena Lincolao, stating on Chilevisión on May 12 that “the order to design and execute a massive dismissal plan is real and there are witnesses”.
The National Association of Officials and Functionaries of the Ministry of Science criticized the procedure. The ministry has not responded to information requests about the cases.
