The money comes from the state – alo.rs

Money, payment, counter, Photo: Tanjug / Filip Krainčanić

The state has begun to pay up to € 5.1 billion in aid to citizens and the economy to reduce the economic consequences of the crisis caused by the coronavirus epidemic. Experts emphasize that nothing could have been done if the state had not followed excellent economic policy.

Finance Minister Siniša Mali says that more than a million employees will receive three minimums of 30,022 dinars each, and the state has set aside up to 32 billion dinars for that purpose. Our heroes, health workers, received a permanent salary increase of 10 percent, and from June 1, all adult citizens will receive another 100 euros of state aid in their accounts. And that is not the end.

– It has not happened in history that the state has helped employers and workers in this way. That assistance with three minimum wages per employee in the private sector is around 750 euros, Mali said.

– We have money, we are completely stable. In April, we paid the full pension for the first time, plus a one-time assistance of 4,000 dinars … Serbia proved to be a good and stable partner, and nothing would have happened if President Aleksandar Vučić had not started and increased public finances – he said Mali added that There are not many countries in the world that have had a support program for their economy and their citizens.

Siniša Mali, Photo: Ministry of Finance

According to him, the state also provided loans for the liquidity of the economy with a minimum interest rate of one percent. As he says, there has always been a story that the state takes, but never gives. He also notes that this is the first time that Serbia has helped 7,000 people apply to the Employment Service to receive compensation for losing their jobs during the state of emergency. Depending on the category, they will receive between 23,272 and 53,949 dinars per month, but also 100 euros of one-time assistance, as well as other adult citizens of Serbia (see box).

– 3,000 companies requested them. Up to 80 percent of microenterprises declared that they would take bank loans, which the state will guarantee for them, Mali said.

At this time, Serbia has stopped collecting Dinar 29.5 billion in taxes and contributions. The repayment of that three-month debt will begin only in January of next year, with the possibility of payment in 24 installments. In addition, for the branches of the economy most at risk, additional measures are being considered, such as two billion dinars redirected for coupons, which are expected to help domestic tourism.

Siniša Mali, Photo: Ministry of Finance

Both artists and singers 90,000 dinars

Yesterday, the Government of Serbia adopted a decision on non-reimbursable financial aid of 30,000 dinars per month, for a period of three months, to independent artists and other workers in the field of culture, determined by a representative association in culture, including pop artists.

100 euros each

Finance Minister Siniša Mali also stated that starting Monday, May 11, it will begin with a “small campaign” so that citizens can find out how they can apply from May 15 for 100 euros, which the state promised to give them. All adult citizens who were 18 years old on April 24, 2020 are entitled to one-time assistance. The payment of the single aid is scheduled for June 1.

Economists point out that citizens should not be concerned when it comes to our economy.

– It is important for us to have foreign investments, and another well-known German company will come soon. It is important that our most important partners, the Germans and Italians, come out of the crisis, then we will be even better. State finances are stable and we are better off than many countries in Europe, says economist Mladjen Kovacevic.

A Jagodina businessman who employs more than 200 workers says he doesn’t recall similar state aid for three and a half decades of business.

– This is a very necessary help and I think it will mean a lot to a large number of companies, especially the smallest and most artisan ones. The fact that people get three minimums for production companies especially means, says Miodrag Nikolić, owner of the company “Feman”.