MAZALICA: MORE THAN 56,000 WORKERS TO RECEIVE HIGHER WAGES

BANJA LUKA, JULY 8 /SRNA/ - The Head of the SNSD Caucus in the National Assembly of Republika Srpska, Srđan Mazalica, said that, under the proposed set of laws on wage increases, more than 56,000 workers would have higher incomes.

During the parliamentary debate, Mazalica stressed that this was not a pay increase for just one privileged group, but for almost all sectors. "We are improving the standard of living for workers in the public sector, and in addition, through the budget rebalance, we have secured BAM 66.6 million for higher pensions, BAM 38.5 million for veterans' issues, and BAM 92.6 million for healthcare and social welfare. We have also increased the maternity allowance and personal disability benefits," Mazalica said. He stressed that an additional BAM 47.8 million was allocated for wage increases over the five months until the end of the year, while an additional BAM 118 million has been allocated since the beginning of the year. The Head of the SDS caucus in the National Assembly of Republika Srpska, Ognjen Bodiroga, said that they would support the wage increase. "However, the first increased salary will be paid in September. In addition, when we add the one-time financial assistance to pensioners, this is an attempt to mobilize voters ahead of the upcoming elections," Bodiroga said. PDP MP in the National Assembly of Republika Srpska Bojan Kresojević said they support every wage increase, but he believes this is not enough. Igor Crnadak, an MP from the "For Justice and Order" Caucus, said that everyone would vote for higher wages. "We have higher revenues to increase wages only because of VAT, that is, higher prices and inflation," Crnadak said.