The pensioners will receive a basic pension of 200 lei a month that will be added to the old-age pension. The bill proposed by the Communist MPs, which provides for the institution of a basic pension of 200 lei, was passed by Parliament in the first reading on April 21, IPN reports.

MP Oxana Domenti, one of the authors of the initiative, said the pensioners are most seriously stricken by poverty, while about 80% of the pensioners get a pension that is lower than the minimum substance level, this being their only source of livelihood.

“We signaled the inequity witnessed by the recipients of pensions. The bill suggests combing the current mechanism with a new element – a fixed sum that is provided to all the pensioners. The persons who receive old-age pension will benefit from a fixed amount of 200 lei. About 510,000 persons who retired in general conditions will get such a sum. The minimum pension will rise by about 20%, while the average one by approximately 15%. The subsistence level will be averagely attained,” stated Oxana Domenti.

Democratic MP Valentina Stratan in her speech said this subject is a sensitive one. Nothing was done to improve the pension system during a long period of time. “They discussed the necessity of reforming the pension system during many years. The international community made recommendations, but the governments preferred to ignore these and to make populist statements. This bill suggests a new conception. I hope the adoption of this will be followed by other actions aimed at providing decent pensions to the population,” she stated.

It was noted that the Government also prepared a bill related to pensions and this could be merged with the first one after it is examined.