Probishtip, 18 September 2023 (MIA) - Minister of Labor and Social Policy Jovanka Trenchevska expects concrete proposals regarding pensions, with a focus on low-income pensioners, to be prepared by the end of September.

In response to a reporter's question during a visit to the Red Cross Probishtip, she said that the working group on minimum pension meets continuously to discuss all possibilities regarding the issue, noting that the next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday.

"The working group functions in continuity, they get together and hold meetings discussing the initial measures that the Government should provide to pensioners, with a special focus on low-income pensioners. Tomorrow the working group will meet again. Now all institutions, or rather, representatives from institutions are debating on the actual situation in the country, and share data that can be used to create social measures for low-income pensioners. I expect concrete proposals to be presented both before the media and the pensioners by the end of the month" Trenchevska said.

Pensioners have announced a mass protest on September 20.

The decision to form a working group was made last month after Trenchevska met with the Union of Pensioners' Associations, after their protest in Skopje during which they stated their demands including a linear increase of Mden 3,500 to all pensions, continuing the alignment according to the new methodology established last year, and setting the minimum pension in the amount of 80% of the minimum wage.

The goal of the working group is to propose sustainable solutions in determining the minimum pension, and other measures in support of pensioners. The working group is made up of representatives from the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, the Government, the Union of Pensioners’ Associations and the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund.ssh/nn/