Subsistence minimum |

The minimum living wage for 2023 is 246 manats for the country, labour 261 manats for the able-bodied population, 199 manats for pensioners, and 220 manats for children.

It’s just that the government has defined it that way. What criteria were taken as a basis, were alternative evaluations taken into account, were civil society, ordinary citizens, and the opposition listened to? Unequivocally, no!

in Azerbaijan state budget it is drawn up by the Ministry of Finance based on the financial needs presented by state institutions. The Accounting Chamber writes an opinion to him, assesses the risks, National The assembly accepts the president also signs.

There is no participation of other members of the society in any of these stages. It has not yet been seen that a joint discussion and hearing was held with independent economists, the opposition, and civil society institutions.

Citizen at its best National He sees that several meetings in the assembly are devoted to the budget. Several in the joint meetings of the committees and in the plenary session deputy talking, complaining, offer gives, but nothing changes. With very minor exceptions cosmetic changes are made by the Minister of Finance and the process ends. The suggestions given and the expressed dissatisfaction remain in the air.

Let’s go back to the growth figures related to the living wage. It should be recalled that the minimum living wage for the current year 2022 is 210 manats across the country. labour it was 220 manats for the able-bodied population, 176 manats for pensioners, and 193 manats for children. And the criterion of need 20It is 0 manats. Government total next year 20– He found the strength to increase by 40 manats. For the first time, the need criterion will be equated with the subsistence minimum and will be increased to 246 manats. But the numbers approved for pensioners and children are lower than the need criteria. Given in Azerbaijan by age social the allowance (180 manats) is neither less nor more than enough to fill the minimum consumption basket – 66 manats less. Let’s take into account that a large part of the citizens of Azerbaijan who have reached the age of 65 have their dreams pension no, they receive an allowance of 180 manats according to their age. The government’s changes to the legislation in 2017 tens of thousands of citizens pension deprived of his right. Retirement age has been increased, as well as the pension capital set to obtain it has increased to an unattainable level.

According to statistical data, only 47 percent of men can claim pension or 180 manat allowance after living 65 years. The remaining 53 percent die before reaching old age… Social according to the institutions’ forecast, the number of pensioners is expected to decrease by 16 percent next year. The ESM recently proudly announced that illegal (?) benefits, of pensions as a result of the cuts, they saved 850 million manats in the budget!

At present, the cost of daily consumption, food goods and services in the country is at least 2 times higher than the need criterion. One of the deputies National He expressed it in the assembly as follows: “Pensions 50-10Even if we increase 0 manat, it is not enough, it is not enough for people’s needs…” In the table presented below, it is possible to see the extent of the shortage compared to the minimum rational set of the consumption basket based on the living wage, compiled by the State Statistics Committee. As it can be seen, the consumption basket for other products, except for margarine and bread, lags behind the required minimum.

So far it is clear, but will the minimum wage and pensions be increased? Currently, the minimum pension in the country is 240 AZN, and the salary is 300 AZN. tax 270 manats remain in the hands of the citizen after deduction. What does the government think, will hundreds of thousands of people be condemned to the minimum income criterion, or will there be significant increases?

Looking at next year’s budget draft, it is not obvious that there will be serious increases. In general social 15 to directed expenses billion It is planned to allocate 219 million manat funds. This is 1 compared to the current year billion 289 million manats, or 9.3 percent more. Social protection and social security expenses of the population 4 billion It is predicted in the amount of 416 million manats. This is about 550 million manats more than last year’s figures. That is, in the best case, pensioners, at least labour in the income of the fee recipients 10We can expect a 12 percent increase. This is not as much as a third of the annual price, inflation. The crisis year 2023 is coming…

Turgut