Koleva: New increases in the minimum wage and pensions coming in March
Skopje, 23 November 2022 (MIA) - The 2023 budget enters parliamentary procedure today. The budget is aimed at overcoming the challenges of the global economic and energy crisis, for which EUR 250 million are provided. Already in March of next year, we will have a new increase in the minimum wage and a new increase in pensions, SDSM MP Daniela Koleva said told a press conference on Wednesday.
"This most important document for the Macedonian economy is the first budget aligned with the new Law on Budget. The budget is aimed at overcoming the challenges of the global economic and energy crisis, for which EUR 250 million are provided. Compared to 2022, revenues have increased by 14.8 percent, while the deficit has decreased to 0.7 percentage points compared to the projections for 2022," Koleva said.
In response to the consequences of the crisis, but also to improve the standard of living of the citizens, she added, the funds for the payment of salaries, pensions and social transfers are increasing.
"Mden 75 billion, or 10 percent more, are increasing funds for the payment of pensions, while Mden 12.5 billion are planned for the payment of benefits for social protection of the most vulnerable categories of citizens. Additional funds have been provided for harmonizing salaries with the minimum wage during the next year according to the new methodology. Next March, we will have a new increase in the minimum wage and a new increase in pensions," said Koleva.
In the budget, she added, the capital projects, which are at the level of close to EUR 800 million or about 52.3 percent higher than the projection for 2022, have not been neglected either.
"The 2023 budget has been developed and provides conditions for increased economic growth, which in the next year, according to EBRD projections, should amount to 2.3 percent, which is more than the projections for growth in the countries of the Eurozone, which, according to EBRD, is also projected at 0.3 percent. We call on all MPs through a constructive and reasoned debate to support the 2023 budget, which is in the interest of the citizens and the Macedonian economy," Koleva pointed out.
In response to a reporter's question, Koleva noted that by the end of this year they expect a higher percentage of capital projects to be realized.
"Given that revenues increased in the first three quarters compared to last year, that's why we have higher revenues. Larger sums and a greater number of investments and capital projects are projected for next year," Koleva said. dk/nn/
