BUDGET REVISION adopted: Surplus goes to salaries and assistance to pensioners and those who took loans in Swiss francs

The Serbian Parliament has adopted the 2019 state budget revision stating that a surplus of RSD 50 billion will be spent on increasing salaries in the public sector, one-off assistance to pensioners and assistance to the citizens who took loans in Swiss francs, as well as on capital investments.

An increase of public sector salaries by eight to 15 percent has been established as of 1 November, as well as one-off assistance to pensioners in the amount of RSD 5,000 to be paid in early December. Finance Minister Sinisa Mali said earlier that nurses would receive the highest salary increase, while doctors would receive a 10 percent raise. Furthermore, an increase is established in the funds for the conversion of part the debt of the citizens for housing loans in Swiss francs under the Law on the Conversion of Housing Loans indexed in that currency.

The Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure will receive more money for the construction of the sections of the Obrenovac-Ljig and Pojate-Preljina highways, as well as the future Belgrade-Sarajevo highway. The highest amount, about 14 billion dinars, is intended for the Moravian Corridor, which will merge Corridors 10 and 11. The amount allocated to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development for scientific research activities is increased, and so is the amount allocated to the Ministry of Labor, Employment, Veterans’ and Social Affairs for the payment of benefits in accordance with the Law on Financial Support to Families with Children.

The Parliament also adopted amendments to the VAT Act, stipulating tax deductions for the costs of the construction of highways, the public interest of which has been determined through a special law, and VAT will also not be paid on the import of goods for the purposes of these projects.

Izvor: Beta

Foto: BIZLife