Terror against pensioners: SDP calls on the FBiH Government to immediately abandon pension cuts

The Social Democratic Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina is shocked by the announcement of the FBiH Government regarding a possible reduction of pensions in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is a red line that the SDA – SBB – HDZ Government must not cross, because it would be an unbearable blow to the standard of living of hundreds of thousands of pensioners who are already barely making ends meet, and probably a trigger for a complete social collapse in the FBiH, states the SDP press release, as reported by the Patria news agency. 

After federal Prime Minister Fadil Novalić recently stated that increasing the minimum wage in the FBiH to 406 KM is socially dangerous, it seems that for the ruling coalition, even the average pension of 366 KM is completely unacceptable and subject to further reductions.

Instead of the FBiH Government convening continuously on this issue and seeking a solution that would prevent the announced ten percent reduction in pensions, sessions of the Parliament and the Government of the FBiH are being postponed due to the detention of the president of one of the coalition parties.

The SDP BiH was among the few who publicly criticized the Government for signing an agreement with the Association of Pensioners on the regular payment of pensions, because there was no need for it, since the regular payment of pensions is guaranteed by the Law on Pension and Disability Insurance. However, it turned out that the Government is unable to fulfill even what is taken for granted, as we are witnessing that pensions are being paid out over almost an entire month.

It is obvious that money for pension payments cannot be secured through empty and unfounded rhetoric about never-better economic results that the Government boasts about, which are nothing more than cheap propaganda. Unfortunately, the current instability of the pension fund is the best indicator of the real economic trends in the FBiH.

The FBiH Government, with the SDP at its helm, during the height of the economic crisis, regularly paid pensions, increased them by ten percent, and reduced the Government's debt to the Pension and Disability Insurance Institute by 60 million KM. This was the result of responsible work and constant dedication to finding solutions to at least somewhat improve the standard of living of pensioners.

It is evident that the SDA – HDZ – SBB government, after trampling on workers' rights, is now directing the edge of its quasi-reforms towards pensioners, which is completely unacceptable, states the SDP press release.