Social payments, including pensions, are guaranteed and will not be affected, even if a regular budget is not adopted by July 1. This was assured by the acting Minister of Labor and Social Policy Hasan Ademov in “The Day Begins with Georgi Lyubenov“. He added that the social sphere will not be used for political purposes.
The Minister explained how the financial stability of social payments is ensured.
“Even if the extended budget is not adopted, there is no danger to social payments. All of them are guaranteed by the Public Finance Act - Art. 87 says that if a regular budget or an extended one is not adopted, the functioning of the state systems cannot be interrupted in any way.“
Ademov specified the specific increases that are planned from July 1.
„Guaranteeing the minimum wage, which increases by 12.6%, guaranteeing the poverty line - becomes 390 euros, the increase is 19.7%. The minimum pension for seniority and age from July 1 increases to 347 euros. The average pension increases to 556 euros. These social payments are absolutely guaranteed, there is no need for them to be negotiated. Bulgarian citizens should be reassured that pensions granted by the end of last year will be updated by 7.8%.“
Hasan Ademov emphasized that the social sphere will not be used for electoral activity.
„All European programs for "Employment", "Hot Lunch", "Personal Assistant", "Home Helper" are for all Bulgarian citizens, regardless of their party affiliation. We at the MLSP have declared zero tolerance for abuses.“
He assured that his team is touring the regions to ensure transparency:
„We will not allow in any way the tools of social policy to be used to model and control certain political behavior.“
According to him, strict measures will be taken in case of violations.
„Where we establish serious violations or collaboration between local authorities and social services, we will react extremely strictly and adequately. We will take all measures to end this ugly phenomenon - buying votes with the tools of social policy.“
He assured that everything possible will be done to support vulnerable groups in connection with the introduction of the euro.