Environment Ministry to lay off 115

Cuts are the second announced by a government ministry this week

The Environment Ministry has announced it is to cut 115 positions from three different agencies.

The Environmental Protection Agency will lose 15 jobs, around 80 positions will be cut by the Nature Protection Agency and another 25 in the Mapping and Surveying Agency.

The ministry is looking to achieve a 2.5 percent reduction in its administrative budget this year and to double that to 5 percent in 2013.

“Like every other ministry, we now must balance our budget priorities with our strengths,” said Marianne Thyrring, the top civil servant at the Environment Ministry. “A changing workplace means we must say goodbye to some employees.”

Thyrring said the ministry will now focus on using environmental policy to stimulate growth.

The Food Ministry cut 108 positions earlier this week.