The PAS group MPs, ACUM Bloc, Mihai Popşoi and Dan Perciun, drafted two legislative bills which aim, according to the MPs, to make pensions in Moldova fair for all. At a press conference, the MPs said that the bills will cap "super-pensions" and will provide that "judges have similar pensions to ordinary people".
Dan Perciun said that currently some groups of citizens have pensions of more than one hundred thousand lei paid from the social insurance budget, while the average pension is only 1834 lei. In order to avoid such inequalities in the future, bills will be introduced that would cap the amount of the pension at five average salaries and would cap contributions to the social insurance budget to five average salaries, starting with 2020. Dan Perciun said that these elements are introduced in order to have a fair and balanced approach. On the one hand, the pension is capped, and on the other, contributions are capped, a practice that occurs in many European countries.
According to the MP, the average pension of judges is currently 20 thousand lei. At the same time, they are entitled to a pension starting with the age of 50 years, after 12 and a half years of labour. Additionally, they benefitq from a severance allowance of up to four hundred thousand lei. Thus, it is proposed that starting with 2021 judges retire at 59 years and a half, which would be increased in 2028 to 63 years of age. Additionally, it is proposed that they should work at least 20 years as judge in order to receive a special pension. Another provision aims to remove the severance allowance.
Mihai Popşoi said that currently there are major shortcomings in the pension system of Moldova and that with the help of such bills, the PAS group, ACUM bloc, is trying to introduce equity into the system. According to the MP, more than 500 thousand Moldovan citizens receive pensions lower than the minimum of existence.
