The people’s perception that life is harder is due to the two-year impact on the economic and health sectors, accompanied by the energy aspect.

This also includes the price hikes that result from the actions of market economy stakeholders, says Deputy PM for Economic Affairs Fatmir Bytyqi. Bytyqi told Alsat TV that a higher standard of living is one of the Government’s top priorities, and this is attained through “decent salaries for citizens”.

He says the Government, trade unions and the civil society are on the same side when it comes to salaries but the energy crisis, the economic crisis and political developments have not allowed for an increase of the minimum wage in December, while adding it will rise in the coming period. According to him, the share of the minimum wage in the average wage has increased by 14 percent over the past five years, i.e. from 38 percent in 2016 to 52 percent in 2021.

“The promise for an increase of the minimum wage in the Government’s programme and the request by the unions for its increase to Mden 18,000 (EUR 292) remain as top priorities of the new government, while reaffirming our position that all interventions should be carried out through the economic-social council, namely in dialogue with all social partners so that we produce sustainable solutions,” notes Bytyqi.

He says the fight against poverty does not require only state intervention but a comprehensive approach. In this regard, a National Development Strategy is drafted as a systemic document that should incorporate the state’s long-term management of the poverty aspect. On the energy crisis, he recalls that the Government cut the VAT rate of electricity from 18 to 5 percent in 2021 and new measures will follow, the first being monthly subsidies in the amount of Mden 600-800 (EUR 10-13) for electricity bills for 7,500 low-income families.

Source: MIA