MINIĆ: RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT WORK SEEKS TO EASE ECONOMIC PRESSURES

PELAGIĆEVO, MARCH 29 /SRNA/ – The Prime Minister of Republika Srpska Savo Minić expressed hope that the National Assembly will adopt a set of laws on salary increases tomorrow, with new salary calculations to take effect from April.

Minić noted that this would mark the first wage increase this year and reminded of ongoing efforts related to returning excise revenues to the Republika Srpska budget, which would amount to nearly BAM 0.10 per liter of fuel for citizens. "We are monitoring everything that is happening and are fully aware that we cannot simply say inflation is 3.5 or 3.6 percent and that a five percent increase is sufficient," Minić told reporters in Pelagićevo. He added that trade union representatives have stated that the proposed increase is not enough. "There is no single measure that can instantly overcome a crisis, but responsible work by the Government and policies focused on citizens, including increasing the funds entering households each month, will help ensure we do not face such major fiscal shocks and that we can overcome these challenges," Minić emphasized. He expressed hope that the war in the Middle East will end as soon as possible. "The surge in energy prices and issues with raw materials, which will inevitably spill over not only into Europe but also here, will create additional pressure on financial stability. However, we are monitoring the situation and responding. I hope that already tomorrow the National Assembly will finalize everything, publish it in the Official Gazette, and that from April we will proceed with new salary calculations," Minić said. A special session of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska, with the set of laws on salary increases on the agenda, is scheduled for tomorrow.