Mateusz Morawiecki made the declaration at a news conference on Tuesday, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Intergenerational solidarity
Morawiecki said: “Solidarity, intergenerational solidarity, solidarity in social policy is the backbone of our policy, a fundamental part, the linchpin of all our policies.”
He added: “At a time of crisis ... we are seeking to help everyone even more, we are not leaving people without help.”
Pensions to rise by at least EUR 50 in 2023
Morawiecki told reporters that, thanks to his government, Poland was becoming “a modern state that cares about elderly people.”
“This is symbolised by the so-called 13th pension and the 14th pension, which we aim to make permanent,” he added.
He declared: “Next year, pensions will be increased by at least PLN 250 (EUR 50).” He added that "the rise will be proportionately higher" for those pensions that exceed PLN 1,800 (EUR 375).
From March next year, Poland's basic state pension will total PLN 1,588.44 (EUR 332), reporters were told.
As of now, the government expects to uprate pensions by 13.8 percent, officials said.
Morawiecki added that last year his government spent PLN 35 billion (EUR 7.3 billion) on additional support to elderly people.
“This year, such additional support will reach PLN 43-44 billion (EUR 9-9.2 billion),” he stated.
‘Not just symbolic’
Meanwhile, Poland’s Family and Social Policy Minister Marlena Maląg reiterated that pensions would rise by 13.8 percent next year, but added that the final decision would be made in February when the state-run statistics office (GUS) publishes its latest figures.
She stressed that pensions were "guaranteed to rise" by at least PLN 250 (EUR 50).
“Since 2015, we have been seeking to uprate pensions not just symbolically, but in a decent way,” Maląg said, adding that the government “has a duty to support the seniors, especially at this difficult time,” amid high inflation fueled by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the PAP news agency reported.
Decision on extension of anti-inflation measures by end of 2022
During Tuesday’s news conference, Morawiecki told reporters that the decision "on whether to extend anti-inflation measures" would be made “by the end of December.”
The Polish government’s “anti-inflation shield” includes scrapping value-added tax (VAT) on food, cutting the tax on fuel to 8 percent, and reducing the VAT on gas and heat, among other measures, according to officials.
Tuesday is day 237 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, dziennik.pl, wnp.pl