Around 400 contractual employees working within the de facto Ministry of Defense’s Air Force—including technical specialists, pilots, and flight advisors—have gone eight months without receiving their salaries, plunging skilled aviation personnel into severe financial distress.
According to statements provided by affected personnel to local media, de facto defense officials instructed staff at the beginning of the fiscal year to continue their operational duties under assurances that their expired employment contracts would be formally extended.
Broken Guarantees and Unpaid Technical Staff
Despite fulfilling daily duties across military airbases, contractual personnel state that administrative authorities have continuously delayed payroll disbursements and contract renewals:
- Unfulfilled Contract Extensions: Employees report that upon the expiration of their contracts earlier this year, defense officials verbally directed them to remain on duty, promising that contract renewals and back pay would be processed imminently.
- Impact on Specialist Personnel: The unpaid cohort includes specialized flight crew members, senior pilots, and technical advisors responsible for maintaining and operating remaining military aircraft.
- Severe Economic Hardship: Affected workers state that eight consecutive months of wage non-payment have left their families facing acute financial hardship, with many unable to afford basic household necessities or medical care.
Institutional Strain and Payroll Deficits
The persistent salary delays within the de facto Ministry of Defense reflect broader financial mismanagement and budget shortfalls across state departments.
While de facto financial authorities frequently deny systemic payroll backlogs, reports of unpaid public sector workers—ranging from teachers to specialized defense contractors—continue to surface across multiple ministries. Analysts note that failing to compensate technical defense personnel risks further degrading the operational readiness and maintenance capabilities of the national aviation fleet.