Higher pensions for 70,000 elders

TIRANA, Sept. 5 – A government decision increased pensions for some 70,000 elders who have retired between 1994 until 1996. the new decision covered those pensioners who had received lower pensions ‘due to some shortcomings,’ according to finance ministry. The average level of pensions increased by 1,200 leks for some 60,000 elders and 1,500 leks for 10,000 others, which is a 27 percent increase for that category. That would cost some 870 million leks annually to the government budget. The new increase starts from July 1. Finance Minister Ridvan Bode said the government aimed at having no lower pensions than $100 in the urban areas and $50 in the rural areas, as they had promised during the electoral campaign last year before coming to power.