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FILE PHOTO: NHS Test and Trace workers in Richmond-Upon-Thames, Britain, September 15, 2020. \u00a9 REUTERS\/Peter Nicholls\/File Photo<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n
RT.com<\/p>\n
Britons have lashed out at their government after reports emerged that private consultants hired to help run the country\u2019s test and trace program receive massive salaries, despite the initiative being marred by issues.<\/p>\n
Documents obtained by Sky News purportedly show that senior executives from Boston Consulting Group (BCG), which was enlisted to aid with the testing regime, are paid more than \u00a37,000 ($9,100) for a day\u2019s work. The shocking daily rate is equivalent to an annual salary of around \u00a31.5 million ($1.95 million). The Guardian later corroborated the story.<\/p>\n
Individual consultants from the firm take home up to \u00a32,400 ($3,110) a day, while managers who are overseeing the Covid-19 test and trace program receive \u00a36,250 ($8,100) for their daily duties.<\/p>\n
The government has budgeted \u00a312 billion to pay for the testing scheme, making it one of the costliest programs in recent years. Despite its high price tag, the initiative has been fraught with problems. Last week a major glitch led to 16,000 positive tests vanishing from a government database, creating less than ideal conditions for accurately \u201ctracing\u201d the virus.<\/p>\n
News of the generous payouts prompted\u00a0\u201c\u00a37,360 a DAY\u201d<\/em>\u00a0to trend on Twitter in the UK, with social media users venting about the outrageous private sector contracts.<\/p>\n Many argued that the UK government had no business doling out so much cash when its own employees make only a fraction of what BCG consultants receive. Just one percent of UK civil servants are paid more than \u00a380,000 a year.<\/p>\n