The customs officers will be liable to graduated punishments for disciplinary deviations, from relegation to the next lowest rank for a period of up to six months or suspension of the right to be promoted to a higher post during a year. This is provided in a bill that regulates the activity of the Customs Service and that was passed by Parliament in the first reading on October 19, IPN reports.

Another novelty is that the customs officers who commit disciplinary deviations would be unable to get a higher pay during a period of one year to two years or could be even dismissed.

The posts in the Customs Service will be filled by contest, promotion, transfer, assignment and holding of the administrative post on an interim basis. The provision stipulating that the Customs Service will be managed by a director that will be named by the minister of finance remains in force. The same minister can modify, suspend or stop the labor relations with the director of the Customs Service.