“From July 1, by decision of the Supervisory Board of the National Social Security Institute, all pensions granted until the end of last year will be updated by 7.8%“. This was announced by the Minister of Labor and Social Policy Hasan Ademov to journalists in Plovdiv.
He explained that there is already the necessary data on which the coefficient for updating pensions under the so-called Swiss rule is calculated. “The harmonized consumer price index is 3.5%. The growth of social security income is 12%. 50% of both indicators makes 7.8%“, added Ademov.
The Minister was categorical that the increase in pensions and all social payments are guaranteed in the so-called extension law on the budget, which the government adopted and submitted for consideration to the National Assembly.
“This is important for all Bulgarian pensioners. And even more important is that all social payments that are enshrined in our legislation are guaranteed, despite the fact that there is no regular law on the state budget adopted”, said the Minister of Social Affairs.
Ademov and Deputy Minister Rumyana Petkova were in Plovdiv, where, on the one hand, they participated in the National Meeting of the Employment Agency, and on the other - they met with representatives of all structures of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy (MLSP) in the South Central Planning Region. At the initiative of Minister Ademov, the leadership of the Ministry of Social Affairs is meeting with representatives of the department's structures in all six planning regions.
For the first time, the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy is actively engaged in the mission of ensuring a fair vote and preventing the influence of social instruments on voters. “We are not attacking the structures of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy or local authorities, because they are also engaged in social measures. We are attacking the ugly phenomena“, explained Ademov.
Minister Ademov gave examples of attempts at such influence both through measures for subsidized employment and through social measures such as “Hot Lunch“ and a personal assistant, as well as a home helper. “These programs and measures are for all Bulgarian citizens, regardless of their political affiliation”, he was categorical.
Hasan Ademov called for reporting data on vicious phenomena, as well as attempts to exert influence for a controlled and corporate vote on vulnerable groups. “Colleagues, do not be afraid and do not succumb to pressure. We will stand behind you with all the capabilities of the state“, he addressed the employees.
The minister also presented another main priority to the cabinet - supporting the most vulnerable. In the middle of the month, the distribution of food packages with 11 essential products for nearly 531,000 households in dire need will begin. The funds are through the European Food Program. The packages are distributed by the Bulgarian Red Cross, but Minister Ademov assigned the Social Assistance Agency (ASA) to carefully monitor that no attempts are made to use this support for election purposes. ASA is the Managing Authority of the Program and prepares the lists of those eligible.
The vulnerable will also be assisted through subsidized employment. With the extension law on the budget, the MLSP also activated the National Employment Action Plan. It will enable municipalities to engage over 1,000 unemployed people to help overcome the damage from the disasters. Within weeks, the Ministry also wants to launch “Employment without Barriers”. The measure is financed under the “Human Resources Development” Program with European funds and will engage over 10,000 people from vulnerable groups to help local authorities clean up the consequences of disasters, as well as for prevention against them, such as cleaning ravines and riverbeds.
„The topic of Easter supplements is very important. At the suggestion of MPs, we at the MLSP have prepared a bill to amend the Social Assistance Act in order to definitively resolve the issue of the so-called Easter and Christmas supplements. They will not only cover pensioners, but also other vulnerable groups. Obviously, this bill will not be adopted by this National Assembly. Therefore, we, with the help of the National Social Security Institute, have developed various estimates. Let the Ministry of Finance finish the analysis of revenues and expenses. You see that in the absence of a regular state budget, public finances are being put to a serious test, but the desire of the caretaker government is to seek and find the opportunity to implement this traditional measure for Bulgarian pensioners,” said Ademov.