At yesterday‘s session, the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) adopted the Decree on the program of assistance to categories of the population that are particularly affected by inflation, which contains a number of measures aimed at supporting the population that are affected by the growth of the consumer price index.
It primarily defines financial support for pensioners, members of the veteran population, recipients of permanent financial and other material assistance, and civilian victims of war and non-war disabled persons, and it is foreseen that these categories will receive financial assistance in the amount of 100 BAM.
In addition, the Decree mandates the Directorate of Commodity Reserves of the FBiH to provide assistance packages of basic foodstuffs, in the amount of six months’ consumption, through the Red Cross. A detailed implementation plan for this part of the program will be prepared by the Federal Directorate and the line ministry.
The regulation also orders employers to pay their employees one-time support in the amount of the average net salary in FBiH. All those who do so, the FBiH Government will exempt from paying contributions to these payments to their workers.
The Prime Minister of the FBiH, Fadil Novalic, told that the goal was for the aid to be concrete, adding that in the previous period they proved that they were able to adapt to situations and changes that have been negative in recent years.
”We are aware of the effect of unwanted consequences of inflation on our population, although this inflation does not affect everyone equally. That’s why with this regulation we recognized the categories that are most affected by inflation,” explained Novalic.
The regulation defines a one-time aid of 100 BAM for 531.000 inhabitants, of which 378.000 are pensioners, followed by 100.000 beneficiaries of veterans’ benefits and 53.000 persons with disabilities and civilian victims of war.
In addition, 10.000 families in a state of social need will receive a package worth about 500 BAM from commodity reserves, and part of the Regulation defines the payment of one average salary up to 1.080 BAM without paying obligations.
Federal Minister of Finance Jelka Milicevic points out that there is a procedure when it comes to the payment of 100 BAM for the mentioned categories and that it requires certain activities.
”For retirees, compensation will be paid with the payment of pensions for the seventh month, and for other beneficiaries within 60 days,” she added, Avaz writes.
E.Dz.
