Bill to Modernize Carabineros With Pay Raises and Incentives Advances in Congress

A bill to modernize Chile’s Carabineros has cleared an important congressional hurdle, winning unanimous approval from the Chamber of Deputies’ Finance Committee. The proposal combines higher salaries, financial incentives and increased staffing as part of the government’s security agenda.

The administration of Gabriel Boric originally submitted the legislation, but the current Executive introduced substantial changes concerning resources. The project is one of several measures the government has designated as priorities in its security programme.

Carabineros Director General Marcelo Araya said the bill would improve pay for recruits and personnel undergoing practical training. He pointed to the current situation of student officers, who receive a net salary of 70,000 pesos during their four semesters.

“That is insufficient, and that was why many of them did not graduate, even though they wanted to become police officers,” Araya said. The planned increase would bring their pay to approximately 250,000 pesos, according to the portion of his statement included in the report.

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The carabiner recruit currently has a net salary of 70,000 pesos during his four semesters. It is insufficient, and that was why many of them did not graduate, even though they wanted to become carabineros.