The draft budget for 2022 has two main goals, the first is to raise the living standard of citizens, and the second is to further strengthen our economy, said today the Minister of Finance SiniĊĦa Mali.
Speaking at the Committee on Finance, the Republic Budget and the Control of Spending Public Funds, Mali pointed out that these two goals are the basic goals of our economic policy, which is why, he added, this policy will continue in 2022.
When it comes to the first goal, raising the living standard of citizens, Mali pointed out that the Draft Budget for 2022 envisages that pensions will be increased by 5.5 percent as of January 1, in accordance with the Swiss formula.
He also reminded that pensioners will receive a one-time aid of 165 euros each in February next year.
From January 1, he points out, salaries in the public sector will also be increased, adding that health care and the army will have an increase of eight percent, and the rest in the public sector by seven percent.
He also stated that the minimum wage will be increased from January 1, and that from next year it will amount to more than 300 euros.
Mali said that ten years ago, the minimum salary was 130 euros, adding that it had more than doubled in the last ten years.
“The minimum wage is important to us, because it is the driver of the average wage,” said Mali and reminded that the goal of the state within the “Serbia 2025” Program is for the average salary to be 900 euros by the end of 2025.
He also pointed out that the state continues to reduce the burden on taxes and contributions for businessmen, adding that from next year, the non-taxable part of income on salaries will be increased from 150 to 160 euros per month.
“We continue the policy of relieving the burden on salaries, which encourages further growth of employees. Despite the pandemic, we are not giving up on that policy,” said Mali.
Speaking about the second goal of the budget for 2022, strengthening the economy and large allocations for capital investments, Mali pointed out that he is not giving up on that policy, despite the pandemic.
He pointed out that next year it is planned to allocate 4.1 billion euros from the budget for capital investments, adding that it is money for highways, expressways, the National Stadium, a factory for the production of vaccines, the completion of the Clinical Center of Serbia, construction and reconstruction of many schools, kindergarten, etc.
“Serbia will be a huge construction site next year as well, which means safe earnings and work for a large number of workers,” said Mali.
Speaking about the growth for the next year, Mali stated that the Budget Proposal for 2022 estimates that it will be 4.5 percent.
He points out that this is a conservative assessment and that if all investments are realized on time, higher growth is possible next year.
According to Mali, the planned deficit for next year is three percent, adding that this level of deficit will enable the share of public debt in GDP to be reduced from the current 58.2 percent to 55.5 percent at the central government level by the end of next year.
Mali also pointed out the risks to our economy, stating that they are the energy crisis and inflation.
“We are following what is happening, and as we have successfully fought the pandemic, I am convinced that we will find solutions for these challenges as well,” concluded Mali, Dnevnik reports.
