America News Agency

Croatian Prime Minister Plenkovic made a statement on the government’s efforts to improve the living conditions of the elderly population and protect pensioners’ rights.

Drawing attention to the challenges posed by an aging population, Plenkovic said society’s social and moral responsibility toward the generations that shaped the country requires ensuring a dignified and secure life in old age.

Plenkovic said various changes had been made to the pension system through work with pensioners’ associations and trade unions. During the government’s term, the average overall pension increased by around 114 percent to 764 euros, and by 117 percent to 780 euros when the annual supplementary payment is included. Plenkovic said they aim to raise the average pension to 800 euros by the end of the government’s term.

Plenkovic said the minimum pension rose by 141 percent to 502 euros, adding that a new 85:15 formula had been introduced for pension indexation and an annual supplementary payment averaging 177 euros had been established. He also said a one-off payment of 50 euros had been made, additional credited service per child had been increased from 6 months to 12 months, and the reduction applied to early old-age pensions after the age of 70 had been abolished.

Plenkovic said complementary measures had been introduced in the social support system and that half of those receiving the inclusive supplement were people over the age of 65. He added that the government continued support packages for pensioners during periods of crisis, as well as consumer protection measures.

Plenkovic said 20 elderly care centers were being built across the country, which would provide 2,000 additional accommodation places and non-institutional care services for 5,000 people.

Plenkovic said the government aims to pass a law protecting the rights of older people before the end of its term and that work within the National Council for Pensioners would continue for the benefit of more than 1.2 million pensioners in Croatia.