The Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) will support in Parliament an amendment to offer two one-off allowances of 1,000 lei each to pensioners whose pension is lower than 4,000 lei. According to PAS MP Dan Perciun, the initial variant of the social insurance budget provided that the pensioners will not get support in 2021. The Government ultimately accepted only the Socialists’ proposal to give such aid only once, IPN reports.
In a press briefing, the MP said that the state social insurance budget for 2021 includes funds for two pension indexations, of 0.6% and 0.2%, which is less than 1% a year. Namely for this reason, the PAS proposed an amendment to the social insurance budget by which the minimum pension is raised. The PAS considers it is very important that the pensions in Moldova are of at least 2,000 lei a month. A bill to this effect was registered back in September, but the Government opposed. Understanding the existing budgetary constraints, the PAS proposes that the minimum pension should be raised to at least 1,300 lei. In its December 14 meeting, the Government rejected this proposal as it believes it is normal for the people who worked for 34 years to get a minimum pension of 1,143 lei.
Dan Perciun said Moldova should offer prospects to the pensioners with very low incomes and should increase the minimum pension so that this gradually rises to the minimum subsistence level. In 2021, the minimum pension should be increased by at least 15% to 1,300 lei. The social policy that was adopted in the first reading generates questions and does not support those who need assistance the most in times of an economic crisis.
PAS MP Ion Groza said one of their amendments refers to the personal exemption of the wife and husband. The current variant of the state budget allows for the annulment of the personal exemption of the husband or of the wife. This means the family will not benefit from an exemption of 11,000 lei. This is an antisocial norm. Another provision refers to the taxing of parcels worth over €100. The PAS considers the sum of €200 is a reasonable minimum and this should not be lowered. That’s why the MPs will propose an amendment to this effect. Another amendment concerns the annulment of the exemption from VAT for organizations and enterprises of societies of the blind, the deaf and invalids. The PAS believes this exemption should be maintained.
