European Authorities Approve Loans and Advance Payments to Ease Crisis
U.S. Department of Defense Responds Only: "We Value the Contributions of Local Employees"
Due to the longest-running "federal government shutdown" (temporary suspension of government operations) in U.S. history, it has been reported that local employees working at overseas U.S. military bases are not receiving their salaries on time.
On the 8th (local time), international media outlets including the Associated Press reported that, as a result of the shutdown, thousands of local employees at U.S. military bases in Europe have not been properly paid for the past six weeks. In some host countries, local governments have stepped in to temporarily cover salaries to support their own workers, but as the situation of having to work without pay continues, there have been cases where employees are struggling to make ends meet.
In Italy, more than 4,600 workers are employed at five U.S. military bases. Of these, around 2,000 reportedly did not receive their October paychecks. Angelo Caccaria, a union official at the Aviano Air Base in Italy, emphasized that workers are unable to pay off their mortgages, are struggling to raise their children, and in some cases, cannot even afford fuel to commute to work. He stated that the current situation is having a severe impact on Italian workers, expressing his anger by saying, "No one has any answers, and no one feels responsible. It is an absurd situation." The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it is in discussions with U.S. authorities to resolve the issue.
In Portugal, more than 360 local employees at the Lajes Air Base in the Azores are also facing wage issues. The local union explained that, under the agreement between the United States and Portugal, unpaid leave is not permitted, so these employees are forced to continue working despite not being paid. The regional government of the Azores has approved a bank loan to provide for salary payments in the meantime.
In Germany, the government has decided to pay the employees' salaries. The German Ministry of Finance stated, "The government will cover the salaries of more than 11,000 employees working at U.S. military bases," adding, "We expect to be reimbursed once the shutdown ends." In Spain as well, the government has reportedly intervened to resolve the salary issues of local employees.
Linda Bilmes, a professor at Harvard Kennedy School, pointed out that local contract workers are at the highest risk of not receiving their salaries during the shutdown period.
However, there was no mention of U.S. Forces Korea in foreign media reports. The Associated Press asked the U.S. Department of Defense about the situation, but the Department only responded by saying, "We value the contributions of local employees around the world."
On the 28th of last month (local time), a man participated in a rally held in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, holding a placard that read "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) feeds families." Photo by Reuters Yonhap News
As of this day, the U.S. federal government shutdown has entered its 39th day, causing widespread inconvenience for citizens. Thousands of flights are being canceled or delayed daily due to reduced operations, and low-income families, whose food assistance has been cut off, are facing relentless financial hardship. CNN reported, "As the impact of the longest shutdown in history spreads nationwide, millions of Americans are in a precarious situation and concerns about a recession are growing." The New York Times also shared individual stories of low-income citizens who are debating whether to rummage through Walmart dumpsters, visit private nonprofit food distribution centers known as "food banks," or save on fuel costs.
Foreign media also explained that the U.S. economy is losing about 1.5 billion dollars (approximately 2.186 trillion won) each week due to the shutdown.
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