AT THEIR session on November 8, ministers determined the sum of the Christmas bonus for pensioners with monthly pensions up to Sk10,365. Prime Minister Robert Fico informed that nearly Sk1.6 billion was allocated for Christmas bonuses this year, SITA reported.
"Available resources will be used for this expenditure. If the financial situation develops positively next year, the Christmas contribution will be paid out in 2007 as well" said Fico.
According to TASR, pensioners with monthly retirement pensions of up to Sk3,455 will be granted a Christmas contribution of Sk2,000. A total of Sk1,750 will go to pensioners with a monthly pension from Sk3,456 to Sk6,910 and a Sk1,500 contribution will be granted to pensioners whose pensions range from Sk6,911 to Sk10,365.
Pensioners who retired before they reached retirement age will also have a right to the Christmas benefit. Parliamentary deputy for the opposition Slovak Democratic and Christian Union-Democratic Party and former Minister of Social Affairs and Labour Iveta Radičová submitted the amending proposal, arguing that over 75 percent of early retirement pension recipients draw pensions up to Sk10,365.
