Price hikes and energy crises, Hoti comes out with three proposals

As a first measure, it has proposed the indexing of all pension benefits and social assistance, as a second measure, increased subsidies in agriculture, as well as the immediate growth of the minimum wage as a third measure.

Hoti has come up with these proposals after saying that the crisis that is being caused by these two factors is only increasing.

Here you have his full post:

1.

There have been reports in recent weeks that, due to developments in war-related financial markets in Ukraine, the pension Trust investment value has marked losses of around 90m euros. Today I have proposed that the Kosovo Parliament's Business Commission invite the next Wednesday to report the Trust Board to inform the actions the Trust is taking in dealing with these developments. Besides the Trust Board, the chairman of the Commission agreed to invite the Central Bank as a Trust watchdog.

2.

The winter energy crisis we're leaving behind, the price crisis that is deepening daily, and the overall global uncertainty caused by the war in Ukraine lays the need for a much more comprehensive approach to aid citizens. According to all indicators, the economic consequences of the energy crisis and the rising prices of consumer goods have greatly weighed the cost of citizens' lives. According to general estimates, the real income of each family has been reduced by about 150,200 euros a month. This means that to maintain the same consumption, each family needs additional revenue of 150,200 euros.

3.

It is inevitable that citizens' support packages during this year should be of the nature of the package that have been implemented during the time of the pandemic. Delays in this direction will only increase the burden for families.

(i) The first and immediate move would have to be to index all pension benefits and social assistance for the price inflation rate of basic food products, meaning the increase of all pensions and social aid as long as the prices of basic food products have increased. The measure affects all citizens over the age of 65, as well as others who receive any assistance from the state.

(i) The second measure would be to increase farm subsidies to enable the continuation of agricultural activity due to excessive growth in the price of seeds, waste and other basic agricultural inputs. This increase in subsidies ensures that about 1/3 of Kosovo families maintain the income level they receive from their agricultural activity.

(ii) The third measure to be considered is the immediate growth of the minimum wage, according to an index that takes into account the cost of living, as well as the increase in public sector wages, also based on an index for the cost of living. Not to be dismissed is the proposal for attracting a lot of pension savings, but a markedly smaller amount than what has been proposed in order to preserve the long-term stability of savings that are in the Trust management for the safety of income for future pensioners. This measure affects all employees in the public and private sector” / P ERISCOPIA