Prime Minister Edi Rama and Minister of Social Welfare and Youth Erion Veliaj were today in Fier to distribute pensions under the new scheme. Both Prime Minister Rama and Minister Veliaj noted that with the new pension reform the ceiling of 240 thousand ALL was removed. As a consequence, pensions will total over 300 thousand ALL for every new pensioner, and this means real increase of pensions.

Minister Veliaj noted that this is a reform for ordinary people and it encourages citizens to pay social security, because only this way they will have a higher pension tomorrow. “I am glad that 39 thousand pensioners who retired every year will have this year a higher pension compared to the one they would have, if they retired last year. Some 39 thousand or 40 thousand others pensioners will benefit from this next year. By the end of this term, 120 thousand people will live better because of a higher pension. For me this is the policy to follow in order to provide more people a better life every year” – Minister Veliaj said.

According to Minister Veliaj, unlike a year ago when people did not benefit anything, because they did not meet minimum insurance years, 5 thousand pensioners will benefit this year a social pension.

The new pension scheme does not favor only those who have a job that has provided them high income, but also those categories that have been paid the minimum wage for a lifetime. One of the other categories that benefited higher pension today was that of miners, who under the new scheme will be able to receive pensions two or three times higher, compared to what they received under the old scheme.

The new pension scheme is being implemented since 1 January 2015, and it has given the first positive effects for the economy of pensioners.