Retired citizens of Slovakia receiving low pensions will get Christmas bonuses in 2009 as in earlier years. The government cabinet green lighted the bonuses at its session on October 14. The social security provider Sociálna Poisťovňa will pay nearly €62.6 million in total in Christmas bonuses from state budget funds, the SITA newswire wrote.
Approximately 1.16 million pensioners will receive Christmas bonuses from the social security provider with their December pension.
Pensioners with pensions of up to €144.70 will receive bonuses amounting to €66.39, while bonuses of €58.09 will be paid to pensioners with pensions from €144.80 to €289.30 and bonuses of €49.80 are to be paid to pensioners receiving pensions from €289.40 to €433.90.
The National Bank of Slovakia (NBS) said it considers Christmas bonuses as a non-systemic solution. The central bank expressed its opinion during interdepartmental review of the draft directive.
“This is a solution for only one group of citizens, regardless of the fact that the economic and financial crisis significantly affects other demographic layers, as well,” said the NBS.
The Labour Ministry rejected this objection, responding that the draft directive has been submitted in line with the law on provision of Christmas bonuses to some recipients of pensions. It underscored that this law had been adopted in line with the government’s program statement and its goal is to help the social situation of pensioners. SITA
Compiled by Jana Liptáková from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
