veterans' pension increase warned

Labour and Social Management Minister Skender Recica may not have been aware of the legislation in force when he has warned of minimum wage increases in Kosovo.

At the weekend conference held today, Recica warned that very soon there will be a minimum wage increase, currently at 170 euros, writes Word newspaper.

However, the party's minister, the pledge initiative, is turning out to be unaware of the chain consequences of the minimum wage increase. Under the legislation in effect, eventual growth of the minimum wage also means increased veterans' pensions.

Article 18 of the Law for the Veterans of the Kosovo Liberation Army says definitely that the veteran's pension cannot be smaller than the minimum wage. So according to the law with the eventual growth of minimum wage, as Minister Recica has warned, then that means there will be increased pensions.

“Depending on budgetary opportunities, cost of living and eventual inflation, at the end of each year for next year, the Government of Kosovo with the finance ministry's proposal with a special decision could decide on how high the pension sum of the KLA Warrior Veterans, which cannot be less than the minimum wage set in Kosovo”, the Law on veterans said.

Otherwise, this unusual warning by Minister Recica also conflicts with the International Monetary Fund and their criticism of the large number of veterans.