Interior Ministry tops list for bonuses and extra pay in Georgia’s public sector

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia has ranked first among all state institutions in terms of bonuses and extra pay in 2024, according to new data released by the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI). A record-breaking 527.5 million GEL was distributed as bonuses and salary supplements across public sector institutions this year—marking the highest amount in the past decade.

Based on figures from the State Audit Office, the Ministry of Internal Affairs handed out the most in salary supplements, amounting to 168.7 million GEL. It was followed by the State Security Service with 27.9 million GEL, and the court system with 25.6 million GEL. The Interior Ministry also led in direct bonuses, distributing 16.1 million GEL, while the Ministry of Justice, in second place, gave out significantly less, only 6.9 million GEL in bonuses.

According to IDFI, these high payouts are mostly seen in institutions that are exempt from legal limitations on bonus and supplement spending, such as law enforcement agencies and the judiciary. Several agencies gave out bonuses and supplements exceeding 20% of their total salary budgets, including the Supreme Court (35%), Constitutional Court (35%), Prosecutor’s Office (29%), and the Interior Ministry itself (22%). IDFI notes that the trend of increasing bonuses in public service has continued steadily since 2018, with 2024’s figures more than double those of seven years ago.