Whose Pension Will Increase from January 1?

For over a week now, the authorities, who receive enormous salaries and bonuses and have increased parliamentary payments by 400 percent, have been trumpeting the "earth-shattering" news that they plan to raise pensions starting January 1, 2022, by a mere 2100 drams.

According to the "Fact" newspaper, this has become both a subject of ridicule and criticism. Economists are even analyzing that such an increase holds zero significance for pensioners, especially in the context of the current horrific inflation. Amid all this noise, however, it seems that the most important point has been forgotten: it is not the base pension that is increasing, but the minimum pension, which will rise to 28,600 drams from the currently set 26,500 drams.

Of course, the government has not concealed this and has clearly stated that it is the minimum pension that is being increased. However, the information was presented in such a way that pensioners believed their pensions would rise, even if only slightly.

It can be said that flawless public relations work was carried out. In reality, only the pensions of 15,600 citizens receiving a working pension will increase, meaning those who were previously receiving less than 26,500 drams. Meanwhile, the pensions of those with a certain working experience currently receiving more than 28,600 drams will not rise by a single dram. Incidentally, it is worth mentioning that this 15,600 figure constitutes about 3 percent of the total pensioners.