250 workers receive a salary of less than 55.000 euros, aid of 222 euros for the Government is populism

At the end of last year, there were formally 191.833 employees, but for 157, salary data is known, that is, for the remaining 34, the employer did not pay taxes and contributions.

Deputy Prime Minister Milutin Simović, in response to a parliamentary question by Raško Konjević from SDP, said that in December, 250 employees received a net salary of up to 55 euros, and another 251 received between 400 and 36 euros.

401 thousand workers had a salary between 500 and 18 euros, 501 thousand workers from 700 to 25 euros, and 701 thousand workers had a salary from 1.000 to 13 euros.

10 employees received a salary of over one thousand euros.

Konjević asked Simović why the government did not accept to submit the proposal of that party that 40 thousand unemployed and 65 thousand pensioners with incomes below 250 euros should be paid assistance in the amount of minimum wage of 222 euros.

He said that a third of employees work for a salary of less than 250 euros, as well as 60 percent have earnings of less than 400 euros.

"These data indicate that our proposal was very much justified. The money could be found by reducing the item of 51 million euros for consulting services and 37 million for material and other services. The total amount of this aid is 20 million euros, which, for example, is owed for taxes by only one business groups (Vektra). By accepting the proposal, the government would show solidarity and political responsibility towards these two endangered categories of the population," Konjević said.

Simović said that the Government received various proposals, but did not give an opinion on those that did not include a way to secure money for such assistance.

He called the SDP's proposal populist, the goal of which is to overshadow the results achieved by the Government

Simović reminded that the Government paid a one-time aid of 50 euros to beneficiaries of social assistance, the unemployed and pensioners with incomes below 125 euros.

"Every citizen and businessman is equal to the government, as well as a student, unemployed or pensioner. The attitude towards businessmen will be equal to their care towards employees and tax obligations", said Simović.

Konjević said that assistance in the amount of at least the minimum wage in the region is not populism when 400 workers or 90 percent of the number of buyers receive less than 60 euros. He also said that they specified precisely where and how that money can be secured.

"A year ago, on April 22, 2019, here in the Assembly, you told me that the procedure for introducing bankruptcy in Vektra Jakić was initiated, which has not yet happened. Is this an example of the efficiency of state administration, equality before the law or the privilege of a privileged DPS businessman?" said Konjevic.