SDA Caucus in the House of Representatives of the FBiH: Instead of increasing pensions, the Government spends contribution money on salaries and privileges

(Patria) - Instead of increasing pensions, the Government spends contribution money on increasing its own salaries and privileges, stated the SDA Caucus in the House of Representatives of the Parliament of the FBiH.

"More than half of the money collected by additionally dipping into the pockets of businessmen, the FBiH Government intends to spend on personal privileges and patching budget holes. Of the planned increased revenues from contributions for pension and disability insurance amounting to as much as 627 million KM, the FBiH Government intends to use less than half of that amount for pension payments this year," they state in the press release.

They add: "the rest of the money obtained by additionally burdening the economy, the authorities apparently intend to spend on increasing their own salaries by 13 percent, increasing allowances for separated life and accommodation by as much as 100 percent, and patching holes created by unprofessional and irresponsible budget management."

"Particularly shameful is the fact that even the symbolic increase in pensions of 4.5 percent is not the result of a decision by the FBiH Government, but of regular legal adjustments. If the current Law on Pension and Disability Insurance were not in place, pensioners would not have received even this minimal correction, while the Government simultaneously increases its own salaries and other privileges through special decisions and decrees. The fact that this government allocates more money for the accommodation of one minister than for the minimum income of pensioners confirms a complete lack of social sensitivity, empathy, and touch with reality," they point out from the SDA Caucus.

"We demand from the FBiH Government that the money collected from contributions for pension and disability insurance be spent on those for whom that money is intended, namely pensioners and persons with disabilities, and not to finance its own selfish whims and patch the consequences of incompetence with that money," the press release concludes.