The Minister of Labor and Social Policy, Jovanka Trenchevska, tells the citizens to be calm, because, as she emphasizes, there will be money for the payment of pensions and salaries, pointing out that funds for the payment of pensions, salaries and benefits for social and child protection are provided in the Budget. 

- The pensioners received their September pensions, increased by 6.8 percent and according to the new methodology, the pensions will be adjusted twice a year, in September and March. The purpose of such a solution is to establish a system for the permanent growth of pensions. In numbers, a pensioner with an average pension of 16.376 denars in August received 17,490 denars in September, compared to June 2017, that is about 3500-4000 denars more money in the account of each pensioner, said Trenchevska in the visit of Television 24, where he spoke on several topics that are under the jurisdiction of MTSP.

The new methodology, she adds, provides for the adjustment of pensions, according to the movement of the cost of living index in the amount of 50 percent and the increase in the average salary paid to all employees in the state in the amount of 50 percent, according to the official data of the State Office for statistics.

The minister informed that the increase of the minimum pension has already been discussed with the associations of pensioners, for which a social dialogue will be opened and the most durable solution will be created.

Trenchevska also referred to the comment on the new methodology of harmonizing pensions and the linear increase of pensions, where she pointed out that through the percentage of increase in pensions, according to the new methodology, it is confirmed that the system is fair. Because the right to receive a pension is a constitutionally guaranteed right and every worker who meets the conditions for retirement, i.e. by reaching the age of 64 for a man and 62 for a woman, the total length of service and the average of salary he received during his working life.

Minister Trenchevska says that a higher salary means a higher position and greater responsibilities, therefore the percentage increase in pensions is fair.

- The linear increase of 600 denars made by the previous government is a disregard for the legal solution and a populist measure. Through the adjustment of pensions according to the new methodology, pensions have a constant growth, and at the same time, every adjustment is included in the basis of the pension, emphasized Trenchevska.

She recalled that, with the January adjustment of pensions of 2.9 percent and together with 6.8 percent for the month of September, this year pensions grew by 9.7 percent. As well as the fact that 330.000 pensioners received financial support of 3.000 denars for easier handling of the economic crisis.