Berisha announces new wage and pension increases

TIRANA, May 30 – Prime Minister Sali Berisha has announced that the government is preparing a package that will increase wages and pensions as he had previously promised. Speaking at a meeting with his Democratic Party lawmakers, Berisha said the increase in wages and pensions was the pillar of the Democratic program. According to the Ministry of Labor, pensions in 2011 will increase by 5 percent for urban areas and 10 percent for rural areas. Last year, the government increased pensions by an average of 6 percent despite the difficult financial situation which forced it to make considerable budget cuts of around 39 billion lek (390 million dollars). Public sector wages also underwent a 2 to 12 percent increase, with medical staff benefiting from the highest increase and pubic administration employees receiving high monthly wages and a 2 percent increase. The situation seems the same even this year as the government will increase wages and pensions, despite being forced to make new budget cuts following lower revenues during the beginning of the year.