A frustrated premier because of the ongoing protests against the increase of prices of fuels and goods of the so called ‘basket’ whose participants demand the resignation of the government head, Edi Rama the latter unveiled on Saturday seven measures of the “Social Resistance Package” to cope with the situation of the increase of price because of the war in Ukraine and the global energy crisis.
The first measure concerns the indexation of pensions. “Some 3.6 billion ALL or 36 million USD, for the immediate indexation of pensions. This measure will be reflected in the next pension of 673,542 pensioners,” said Rama.
The second point goes to 434,000 beneficiaries, who will be compensated in cash for the increase in the price of the goods of the basket which is 7% based according to the calculation of INSTAT or 25,000 old lekë.
“The government will provide 30,000 old lekë, for 3 months in a row, for the following categories: pensioners who receive less than half of the minimum wage, disability pensioners, pensioners living alone, people with disabilities, paraplegics, tetraplegics or blind, all families that are currently in the economic assistance scheme,” said Rama.
The third point concerns support for farmers. “Support for tax-free oil farmers will go to ALL 1.4 billion or USD 14 million, with an additional plus of USD 5 million which will be poured immediately,” Rama said.
“The government will support all Albanians who use urban and intercity bus lines, immediately pouring 500 million ALL or 5 million dollars to pay the difference in the ticket price, so that no passenger is affected by the price change,” said Prime Minister Rama.
“We are approaching two months before the entry into force of the law on the reduction of the tax on salaries up to 400,000 old lekë, the halving of the tax on salaries up to 500,000 old lekë, as well as the reduction of the tax on salaries from 1.5 to 2 million new lek These mitigation measures will be reflected in the April salaries and 360,000 employees will benefit from such a measure,” he said.
The Prime Minister also presented the last two points. “We are approaching two months before the entry into force of the law on the minimum wage, which in April will become 320, 000 old lek. We add with 20 billion new lek or 200 million USD the financing of the energy price shield for household consumers and small business,” said the premier. /Argumentum.al
