ZAGREB, Sept 20 (Hina) - Croatian Labour and Social Welfare Minister Davorko Vidovic on Thursday dismissed allegations the government is "socially insensitive". In reply to questions by opposition MPs about a draft package of social
laws, Vidovic said social contributions this year were higher than in previous years. Concluding a discussion on the seven bills, Vidovic said last year the average pension was 1,367 kuna, and this year it is 1,602 kuna. In 1999 children's allowance was 235, this year it is 456 kuna per month. Last year, Vidovic continued, salaries rose not just nominally, as did pensions and children's allowances, as well as the number of people receiving social assistance. He dismissed claims that the government moved for a reduction in social entitlements for its obligations towards the international Monetary Fund (IMF). The Fund merely pointed out the budgetary deficit should be reduced. "I cate
ZAGREB, Sept 20 (Hina) - Croatian Labour and Social Welfare
Minister Davorko Vidovic on Thursday dismissed allegations the
government is "socially insensitive".
In reply to questions by opposition MPs about a draft package of
social laws, Vidovic said social contributions this year were
higher than in previous years.
Concluding a discussion on the seven bills, Vidovic said last year
the average pension was 1,367 kuna, and this year it is 1,602 kuna.
In 1999 children's allowance was 235, this year it is 456 kuna per
month.
Last year, Vidovic continued, salaries rose not just nominally, as
did pensions and children's allowances, as well as the number of
people receiving social assistance.
He dismissed claims that the government moved for a reduction in
social entitlements for its obligations towards the international
Monetary Fund (IMF). The Fund merely pointed out the budgetary
deficit should be reduced.
"I categorically refute any idea that the World Bank or the IMF are
dictating to Croatia what to do," Vidovic said, adding that the
government respected the opinion of the IMF, but was making
decisions independently.
The minister warned that, despite the current system of childbirth
allowances and children's allowances, the number of newly-borns
has been falling since 1996. The system of family bonuses cannot
replace the general social and political security of the country,
Vidovic stressed, adding that this set of laws was the beginning of
a more systematic care for the social welfare of citizens, which
will mean an improvement for all citizens.
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