A German government agency has criticized the country’s state-owned highway company, pointing out that it pays its 14,500 employees significantly higher salaries and bonuses than what is typical in the public sector.
According to a recent report by the Federal Audit Office, the highway company’s remuneration packages, including several elements, are deemed “not necessary from a factual perspective” and “economically unjustifiable.” The agency claims that the company has failed to adhere to the principle of economic efficiency and thriftiness, as mandated by the legislature.
The excessive salaries, the report suggests, may have a ripple effect, leading to increased personnel costs not only within the highway company, but also in the public sector as a whole.