TIRANA, September 8 – “Albania is the only country that has decided through the government to undertake a path that the end will show whether it is an expression of great courage or stupidity in order not to affect the price of energy in the bill of citizens and small businesses.”
This was the comment made by the Prime Minister, Edi Rama unveiling the anti-crisis package in the Assembly on Thursday, which, according to him, will affect about 1.2 million subjects, individuals including businesses.
The Prime Minister said that what worries the whole world today is the exponential increase in prices, an inflation that is exceeding all the limits of the predictions made for its extension in time.
“Eurostat figures show that Albania has kept inflation at a level that is the lowest in the region,” said Rama. However, despite what Rama said the reality shows that Albania is the poorest country in the Western Balkans and Europe while internationals are concerned by the rising wave of Albanian citizens leaving the country en masse. Rama did not touch upon this issue because poverty is the main cause of this phenomenon, according to financial and social experts.
According to him, there will be a re-indexation within the same year of pensions that will come into force immediately and will be effective for pensioners as early as October. The total indexation of pensions will be 9.3% a figure in which it is included the last April indexation, and it will be effective starting on October 1 this year.
This is a long-term indexation that fully covers all price increases resulting from inflation in the pensioners’ basket. There will be a 10 percent increase in economic assistance for families in need and a doubling of this assistance for women who are heads of families with 2 children.
“Another intervention will be made to index the support for the disabled by 7% and increase the energy support for the blind, paraplegic and tetraplegic,” said Rama.
Also, the prime minister said that salaries will increase for two groups that have not had salary increases recently, namely the police force and the staff working in prisons.
The Prime Minister said that financial support for oil farmers will be established again. Rama said that the minimum wage will increase from 32,000 to 34,000 ALL.
/Argumentum.al
