The Ministry of Agriculture continued to pay old-age benefits in the amount of 40 euros instead of 50,2 euros, as provided for in the amendments to the law on agriculture adopted on December 27. The amendments to the law are valid from January 1 of this year.
One of the proponents of changes to this law, independent MP Neven Gošović, said that the Ministry has no legal basis to pay benefits in the old amounts. He reminds that the amendment of the law determined that they now amount to half of the minimum pension of 100,4 euros, and at the same time the old regulation on their determination ceased to be valid. The ministry is headed by Petar Ivanovic.
"This is illegal and inhumane behavior of the Ministry of Agriculture. We will launch an initiative in the Assembly on this issue. The defender of human rights and freedoms has the opportunity to react, because this group of citizens has been deprived of their rights, as well as the prosecutor's office due to the potential abuse of official position", said Gošović.
He said that he asked the Ministry why old-age benefits were being paid in the old amounts, and they directed him to a statement from the ministry's website, which stated that old-age benefits for February were paid to 4.937 beneficiaries in the total amount of 197.480 euros, which is only confirmed that they were paid in the amount of 40 euros.
Gošović stated that this is deeply inhumane treatment of elderly households who live in the countryside, engage in agriculture and have no other income, which is why they were granted this compensation.
"The fact that the Government made the budget proposal before the amendment to this law was adopted, so the old item remained in the budget, is not a reason to pay a reduced compensation and to violate the law.
They can pay the fees from the budget reserve or ultimately propose a rebalancing of the budget," said Gošović.
The amount in the budget for this purpose is 2,65 million euros, and due to the increase in fees, it should be higher by about 600 thousand euros.
Holders of family agricultural property, who live in the countryside and are engaged in agriculture, do not earn income on other grounds and are over 65 years old for men and 60 years old for women, are entitled to this allowance.
The prosecution should act if the minister does not pay soon
When asked if the beneficiaries of old-age benefits can sue the Ministry for this, Gošović said that they could, but that it is unlikely that they would decide to do so, because it is about elderly households living in the countryside and for whom it would be a burden.
"We will try, through the Assembly, to convince the Ministry to start paying benefits in full and to compensate them for the two months they have been deprived of." And if they don't do that, then the prosecutor's office must also react," said Gošović.
The proponents of the amendment stated in their explanation that the goal of their proposal is to improve the financial position of this vulnerable category of the population as much as possible.
The amendment was adopted in the Assembly with a minimum majority of 41 votes, and it was supported by members of the opposition, SDP, LP and minority parties. DPS representatives were restrained.
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