During hearings before the parliamentary committee on public finance oversight, the head of the Audit Chamber emphasized that, despite seemingly similar coefficients, other agencies benefit from higher pay grades and specific allowances. This puts the Court of Auditors at a disadvantage; even consultants in other agencies receive higher salaries.
“We do not expect salaries comparable to those at NARE, NKFR, or NBM, and we fully understand that these agencies are unique because they regulate strategically important sectors. However, given the scale of our audit activities, we request that our employees’ salaries be slightly higher than those in the agencies we audit, and under no circumstances lower,” she stated, noting that, according to international practice, the compensation for auditors at supreme audit institutions is comparable to that of Constitutional Court staff.
Tatyana Shevchuk emphasized that training an auditor capable of leading a mission from start to finish requires massive budgetary investments over the course of 8–10 years, and the lack of attractive salaries undermines these efforts, driving talent toward the private sector or other government agencies.
“These are massive investments in human resources. These are budget funds that we are investing, and it would be a great pity if these people were to terminate their employment contracts and find positions in other institutions where, at the consultant level—regardless of whether they are chief or senior consultants—salaries are higher. This is unfair to the supreme audit institution,” added Tatyana Shevchuk.
She appealed to lawmakers for support on this issue:
“We understand the current situation in the country, which is why we want the salaries of the Chamber of Accounts’ staff to be commensurate and to be set correctly and fairly, taking into account the responsibilities, authorities, and complex tasks these people face. Obviously, the bill is currently under discussion, and I am confident that we still have some issues to address. We ask for your support to ensure that this independence is not compromised.”
It should be noted that the bill on public sector pay reform has previously been criticized by labor unions, prosecutors, and judges.
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