Press release of the Prime Minister Edi Rama:

Hello everyone,

Last night we had a government meeting and finalized the project on the remunerations for the New Year for a number of categories, in the wake of the same philosophy that we adopted last year to support those most in need and those who deserve them the most.

On the occasion of the New Year, we have decided to remunerate with 20 thousand ALL of the old currency the people belonging to each of the following categories:

84 thousand beneficiaries of financial allowance;

68 thousand beneficiaries as part of the category of persons with disabilities;

372.932 pensioners, people receiving retirement pension, disability pension and family pension;

145.580 people receiving pensions from agricultural cooperatives;

3.595 people receiving special treatment for the work performed in mines and several military industry enterprises;

10.660 people receiving early pension due to length of service;

81 thousand heads of households receiving compensation for electricity.

This is the whole package of remunerations for individuals and families in need.

On the other hand, there is also the group of persons with special merits.

Part of this group are excellent students, namely all the students of secondary education who have earned the maximum grade in all subjects. They will be given 50 thousand ALL of the old currency. 50 thousand ALL of the old currency will be given also to all students of excellence. The whole group of teachers whose performance has been remarkable based on the performance criteria established by the Ministry of Education, and based also on the results of the schools where they teach, according to the ranking made by the Ministry of Education, will be given 400 thousand ALL of the old currency. The same amount of 400 thousand ALL of the old currency will be given also to 300 persons who have provided remarkable service in public hospitals in the Republic of Albania, mainly nurses, and also physicians in special cases.

This package confirms once again our undivided attention and care beyond any financial difficulties, and beyond this year of reforms and efforts to ensure the path of sustainable economic growth and to ensure a better future, not as an illusion, but as an objective goal based on the realization of the objectives that determine the path of reforms and measures to accompany the reforms.

We are still in an intermediate stage. The complex operation of reforms in all sectors has made good progress and will continue without any fluctuation, with the greatest determination and deep conviction that what we are doing today is the only way to be tomorrow under entirely different conditions and have greater options to give Albanians the state they deserve, and through the state they deserve to give them every option needed to increase their household economy and to realize their hopes and dreams.

I wish once again Happy New Year to everyone receiving this remuneration, which is an obligation of the government to convey to people a very clear message that despite the difficulties of reforms, and despite the pain that these reforms cause, they are necessary just like any surgery and any therapy that is necessary to fully restore the vital body functions threatened by an aggressive cancer. My best wishes also to the best among us, who according to me are the best Albanian citizens, the students of secondary education earning the maximum grade in all subjects, and the students of excellence who are also a reference point for everyone and an excellent example that can teach something to all of us.

Thank you!