All salaries will increase by 1 percent on average from October 25, some less, some more, and we must take care that we are a country of social justice.
This was said by Prime Minister Milojko Spajić at the control hearing at the Committee for the Economy regarding the draft Fiscal Strategy and the implementation of the Europe Now 2 program.
"About 300.000 people will feel the benefits of this increase," said Spajić.
He said that the Europe Now 2 program brings an increase in the minimum wage, from 450 to 600 and 800 euros, a reduction in the tax burden and fiscal sustainability.
"In our country, the minimum wage will be increased to 600 and 800 euros, in Croatia the minimum wage is around 650, in the Czech Republic around 660, in Slovakia 616 euros, in Latvia 601 euros, in Hungary 460 euros, in Romania 418, in Serbia 404 euros, in Bosnia and Herzegovina 388 euros, in Bulgaria 370 euros, Albania 340, Northern Macedonia 320... These figures speak of our civilizational progress. The reduction of the tax burden for work will reduce the risk of doing business in Montenegro and enable employers to have the most competitive letters in Europe for employment and the lowest work burden. labor costs will not increase and gross wages will not increase drastically and even lower than in the countries of the region," Spajić pointed out.
He added that the message of the parliamentary majority is full employment, high wages and a low fixed tax for employers.
"In addition, the fiscal sustainability and conservatism for which we have been recognized since 2020, because for the last four years we have had budgets with fiscal deficits below one percent and a surplus of the current budget. We foresee a current budget in surplus for the next three years as well," Spajić said. .
DPS MP Nikola Rakočević said that Spajić deceived the citizens and did not fulfill his promise, and that it is good news that he did not fulfill his promise, because if he had, the state would have gone bankrupt.
"Instead of the 'Europe Now 2' program, we have Fiscal's strategy, instead of a minimum wage of 700 euros and a minimum pension of 600, we have a minimum wage of 600 euros and no pension of 600 euros. Inflation is galloping and products and services are growing significantly constantly. You are have imposed serious spending and in response to that you will increase excise taxes and VAT, which means that the prices of products and services are rising and that means that citizens live worse," said Rakočević.
He said that current costs are piling up and creating a deficit in the budget instead of rationalizing the number of employees in the public sector, and the private sector and the economy, which needs to generate new value, are burdened with new charges.
Rakočević told Spajić that all that is needed is for the citizens to go to the markets.
"They don't have to believe me or you. The price of a liter of oil in Croatia is 1,09 euros, and in our country it's 1,39 euros. You and I should go to the Voli market and if it's not 1,39 on the shelf, I will resign, and if it is 1,19, you should resign. I know that these data affect you, I am sure that inflation is galloping and that products and services are constantly growing," said Rakočević.
Sopajić replied that he was "sorry that Rakočević will resign and will no longer be a parliamentarian".
"On the 'Volija' website, we have sunflower oil for 1,19 euros of the 'Volim' brand, the Prime Minister stated.
Rakočević repeated that the prime minister is not telling the truth.
"Several times he told the truth about much more important topics, so he continued now in his own style. I invite him to go to Voli with the media and stand in front of the shelf with sunflower oil to see how much oil there is," Rakočević said.
Spajić urged him that he could not compare oil prices in "Volij" with online prices in Croatia, but to use online prices in "Volij" for comparison.
"And that is 1,19 cents per liter. Give the address and you will be delivered oil at this price," Spajić said.
A liter of "Volim" brand oil in the "Voli" market in the city center cost 1,23 euros yesterday, as confirmed by the "Vijesti" reporter, while the most expensive price per liter was 1,74 euros.
"Underestimation of citizens"
URA Movement MP Miloš Konatar said that the prime minister underestimates citizens and thinks that "a lie repeated 100 times becomes the truth".
"Citizens are deceived and cheated. You promised a minimum salary of 700 euros, it is 600 euros. You said that all university graduates will receive a minimum salary of 800 euros, but that is not true either, only those who have systematized jobs with a higher education. you don't mention the time seven o'clock now, you put in a calculator that showed that every salary would increase by 25 percent, then you removed it, the unemployment rate is zero, and at the end of 2027, according to Fiscal's strategy, you predict 10 percent," said Konatar.
He said that the average salary is 825 euros and that it will be increased by 6,15 percent or 50,60 euros.
"This is the truth that I am saying and it is written in the fiscal strategy, and according to the calculator you promised 25 percent. You promised all pensioners in December of last year that the increase would start immediately, but you left the same proportional pensions without an increase," said Konatar.
DPS MP Mihailo Andušić asked why the promise for employees' wages of 25 percent was not realized. He said that he agrees that inflation is part of global factors and that Montenegro today does not have the same or similar inflation as countries in the region.
"Inflation has eaten up all the effects of both 'Europe Now' programs. You are planning higher VAT on the press, publishing activities, still wines... All this growth will ultimately lead to the 30 percent increase in VAT that was talked about," he pointed out. Andjusic.
Spajić said that they could not increase the proportional pensions because they did not have data from other countries to see how much they needed to be paid up to 450 euros, and that they would soon receive this data and that from January 2025 they would be able to apply the law and increase commensurate pensions.
"We never had a calculator in the parliamentary election campaign, it was set up in September, and salary growth is 25 percent on average," Spajić pointed out, adding that EU countries also have different criteria for salary.
He said that he thinks that the wine industry will not suffer because of the excise tax on still wine and that it will not destroy them.
"We had beer and sour water and we didn't destroy them, so we won't have wine producers either, whose labor costs for employees have been reduced. Both wine companies and plantations will be in the plus", said Spajić, adding that all election promises will be fulfilled in the deadlines they gave.
SD MP Boris Mugoša said that it is legitimate that Spajić won the elections on the story "Evropa Sad 2", but that it is not legitimate to play with the feelings of citizens.
"The fact that someone gave a net increase from the gross salary did not increase your salary. It is manipulation, it gave you 50 euros more in your pocket, and the prices jumped, so you lost your purchasing power. 'Europe Now 2' is a classic manipulation The fiscal strategy has nothing to do with the "Europe Now 2" program, there is no full unemployment, the minimum wage is 25 euros, not 600 euros. it will not happen... This is a gambling economy because the productivity of the economy is not increasing. Now the economy is in a worse state than before, illiquidity is increasing, the number of blocked companies is increasing...", said Mugoša.
He said that the VAT rate is increasing and that it is the third highest rate on services in Europe, while neighboring Albania and Croatia, which are our competitors, have lower VAT, and excise taxes on wines in our competing countries are lower.
"You charge VAT on books, tickets, press. I took my son to the cinema, the cost of two tickets and popcorn and water is 27 euros, and now you charge VAT... Montenegrin economy is reduced to consumption," said Mugoša.
Slađana Kaluđerović (SNP) stated that from 2013 to 2020, the minimum wage was increased by 29 euros, and from 2020 to 2024, the minimum wage increased three times.
"These are the facts. The minimum pension has been increased from 143 to 450 euros, which means it has increased three times since 2020. From 2012 to 2020, the average salary has increased from 487 euros to 520 euros, which means the average salary has increased by 37 euros for eight years of DPS rule, and now it almost doubles to 1.000 euros". Kaluđerović stated.
Zdenka Rakočević (Democrats) said that the "Europe Now 2" program is realistically sustainable and that means fiscal stability, and that the most important thing is that minimum wages will be increased, and labor costs for employers will be reduced.
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