Vatican employees alarmed by cuts, outsourcing policies

(ANSA) - ROME, AUG 22 - A group representing Holy See employees, the Association of lay Vatican employees ADLV, has published a document expressing concern over a series of cuts and outsourcing policies they say undermine their stability and the sense of working for such an institution.
    The document cites personnel spending cuts that did not provide "a radical improvement to the financial situation of the Holy See", and "restrictive measures", including a freeze on promotions, new hires and overtime salary.
    It wondered what to expect from an "announced salary reform" and whether pensions would be affected.
    Meanwhile, the document denounced that only "a few" are being promoted in "actions that affect budgets and don't always take place according to principles of meritocracy".
    Another controversial issue cited by the document was a policy to outsource and privatize resources - "a radical change" turning a "small community inspired by the values of the Gospel into a business", according to the paper.
    The document mentioned as examples the Vatican's real estate properties controlled by "Italian real estate agencies", investments managed "mostly by American companies" and even the Vatican supermarket Annona "which will soon be managed by a well-known Italian brand".
    The association wondered why "internal resources" which are "increasingly demotivated and confused" are not being valued.
    "Discontent is growing mercilessly", the document concluded.
    (ANSA).