The bills that modify the pension indexation formula enabling to raise pensions by 5.3% on April 1 this year and that allow providing lump sums of 600 lei to pensioners and recipients of social benefits, which were approved by the Government by assuming responsibility for them on March 7, became laws as there was filed no motion of no-confidence, IPN reports.

Until now pensions were indexed in accordance with the price rises the previous year. Under the new formula, pensions will be indexed depending on the average rise in prices for the past three years. According to the old formula, the indexation rate was of about 3%.

Under the second bill assumed by the Government, the state will offer by 600 lei in Easter payouts to the recipients of all types of pensions lower than 2,000 lei, set before April 1, 2019, and to state social benefit recipients. The recipients of childcare, accompanying and surveillance allowances are an exception. About 610,000 persons will receive such aid. Over 400,000 of these receive old-age pensions. The others get disability pensions, successor’s pensions or state social benefits.

“This takeover procedure is something done as a matter of exception. The pension indexation and the payment of 600 lei to pensioners and social benefit recipients are measures that must take effect on April 1. So, there is no time to wait until a majority in Parliament is formed to pass these bills”, Prime Minister Pavel Filip stated in the March 7 meeting of the Cabinet.

Under the Constitution, the Government can assume responsibility before Parliament for a program, political statement or bill. This can be yet dismissed if the MPs introduce and vote a motion of no confidence over the assumed matters within three days of the takeover.