By: Moja Dolenjska
In 2023, retirees and recipients of disability benefits were deprived of a 4.5% increase in pensions. Salaries in the public sector were raised, but pensions and benefits were not. In the government and coalition (Gibanje Svoboda, SD, and the Levica), a decision was made, and a promise was made to increase the amounts by 4.5%.
Despite the nice words, this has not happened to this day. It is yet another unfulfilled government promise.
Prime Minister Robert Golob stated on October 24th, 2022, in the National Assembly: “Just to finish regarding the increase in benefits. Yes, it is true, the public sector received an adjustment for inflation, which we speak of as 10%, at the level of 4.5%. Yes, retirees will also receive this. You asked me when? This Thursday. The law is already prepared and is in the government procedure, and this Thursday we will adopt the law in the Government for the same 4.5% regular adjustment of pensions, not for extras, not for candies, regular adjustment.”
Likewise, Minister of Labour, Family, and Social Affairs Luka Mesec stated at a press conference after the government session on October 27th, 2022: “The government has decided to meet everyone halfway with approximately equal amounts. Since we have increased salaries in the public sector by 4.5 percent, we will also increase pensions by 4.5 percent.”
Since nothing has come of this, the coalition has so far failed to fulfil its own resolutions and commitments. On February 29th, 2024, the parliamentary group of the Slovenian Democratic Party demanded the convening of an urgent session of the Committee on Labour, Family, Social Affairs, and the Disabled to address the following agenda item: “Call for the fulfilment of government promises and commitments to improve the financial and social position of Slovenian retirees.” In the agenda, they proposed the following resolutions:
– The Committee on Labour, Family, Social Affairs, and the Disabled calls on the Government of the Republic of Slovenia to provide financial resources and pay retirees the difference in the amount of 4.5% of monthly pensions, for which they were deprived in 2023, within one month from the adoption of this resolution, thereby fulfilling its promises.
– The Committee on Labour, Family, Social Affairs, and the Disabled calls on the Government of the Republic of Slovenia to exceptionally adjust pensions by 4.5% within one month from the adoption of this resolution.
The session of the Committee on Labour, Family, Social Affairs, and the Disabled was convened on March 8th, 2024, but the proposals of the Slovenian Democratic Party’s resolutions were not adopted. The coalition was against.
This has now been reminded by MP Karmen Furman, who demands answers from the government regarding when it will fulfil its promises. The government has not yet responded.