3rd October 2023, Skopje – Today, Parliament adopted the 2023 Decision on Reallocation of Funds among the Central Government Budget Users and the Funds. As per the Decision, Denar 18.2 million is allocated as payment of higher wages, increased pensions, vacation allowance for all public sector employees, social rights, agricultural subsidies, health protection, i.e. drug “Trikafta”, as well as funds for the new set of anti-crisis measures.
“Reallocations under the Decision are in support of the social aspect, i.e. funds are primarily destined for supporting the citizens and their living standard – 10% higher government wages, and payment of vacation allowance (K15) in line with the provisions under the General Collective Agreement for the public sector employees, increased pensions by around 6% as per the reached systemic solution, increased funds for social transfers, agricultural subsidies, support for domestic and foreign companies, as well as funds projected for the ninth set of anti-crisis measures. We aim for supporting the citizens, in order to ease the price pressures as much as possible, while also keeping the Budget development component, with the projected capital investments, being higher than the budget deficit. Thus, we keep applying the strategy for economic recovery, above all by safeguarding the living standard of the citizens, also coupled by the acceleration of the economic growth, Minister Besimi said when elaborating the draft Decision in the Parliament building.
Minister stated that under the Decision, Denar 18.2 billion are reallocated, provided on the basis of savings from less executed expenditures at certain budget users, as well as with the funds additionally provided via the CAPEF mechanism, thus ensuring sound Budget liquidity and settlement of the liabilities.
Funds provided under the draft Decision amount to Denar 4.25 billion, aimed at increasing the public sector wages by 10% as of this month and paying vacation allowance in the amount of Denar 10,000, Denar 3.5 billion for increasing pensions by around 6% for 336 thousand pensioners starting September 2023, Denar 1.81 billion as state aid for companies such as: Denar 581 million for domestic companies, Denar 200 million for foreign companies and Denar 200 million for companies and infrastructure landscaping in TIDZ, Denar 800 million is intended for agricultural subsidies, mostly for milk subsidies, cattle raising, as well as advance financing of farmers for plant breeding and cattle raising, Denar 650 million for “myVAT” payment for the third quarter due to the increased refund threshold, Denar 600 million as payment of social rights for 36,000 beneficiaries of guaranteed minimum income, Denar 290 million as payment of student meal for 29,000 beneficiaries, scholarships for 6,900 students and 9,600 pupils, Denar 200 million as regular maternity leave payments, Denar 166 million for translation, printing and purchase of textbooks for primary and secondary education, Denar 110 million for coping with the African plague, Denar 100 million for the purchase of the drug “Trikafta” for 55 patients, as well as Denar 20 million for purchase of digital sensors for monitoring diabetes.
Under the Decision, Denar 4.55 billion is also allocated under the P1 Program, as funds destined for the anti-crisis measures aimed at dealing with the crisis.
Minister stressed that as per such reallocation, all planned capital projects are to be implemented, and that the capital expenditures remain at a level higher than the budget deficit, keeping the same amount in nominal terms, thus speaking in favor f the commitment to gradual fiscal consolidation.
Parliament also adopted the draft Law on Amendments to the Law on Budget Execution.
