Skopje, 16 October 2023 (MIA) — The Ministry of Labor and Social Policy's workgroup on increasing pensions has submitted the pensioners' demands and proposals to the government and they will be discussed during the next government session, Labor Minister Jovanka Trenchevska said in a TV appearance Monday.

"When the final decision is made, the pensioners and the media will be promptly informed about the measures to be introduced this winter so that we improve pensioners' living standards," Trenchevska said in the 'Hello, Macedonia' morning show on Kanal 5.

Back in August, following numerous protests of pensioners nationwide over their low retirement checks, a workgroup was formed to review the minimum pension taking into account the poverty line set by the World Bank.

The workgroup, made up of representatives from the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, the Pensioners Association and the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund, was to also develop anti-crisis packages and amendments to the Law on Pension and Disability Insurance foreseeing a higher minimum pension.

At the protests, the pensioners demanded a linear increase in pensions by 3,500 denars and raising the minimum pension to match the minimum wage. mr/