DUSHANBE, February 9, 2012, Asia-Plus — Deputies of Tajikistan’s lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament have endorsed the bill requiring amendments to the country’s law on pensions.
The regular sitting of the third session of the Majlisi Namoyandagon of the fourth convocation, presided over by its head, Shukurjon Zuhurov, was held on February 8.
Presenting the bill, Minister of Labor and Social Security Mahmadamin Mahmadaminov noted that under the amendments proposed to the law, after death of a pensioner of any group, his/her relatives will receive an extraordinary grant in an amount equal to 20 accounting indicators (for this year, an accounting indicator is set at 40.00 somoni).
According to him, the amendments are aimed at preventing corruption and ensuring correct calculation of insurance premiums and payment of pensions trough the savings bank Amonatbonk, as well as determining a total amount of payment of pension after death of a pensioner.
Speaking at the meeting, the Majlisi Namoyandagon Speaker Shukurjon Zuhurov noted that current number of pensioners in Tajikistan was estimated at 585,000. “Five years ago, 650 million somoni were needed to pay pensions, while this year, more than one billion somoni are needed for payment of pensions.”
Of the overall number of pensioners, 375,000 receive monthly pensions at the rates of 80.00 to 150.00 somoni and the remaining pensioners receive pensions at the rates fluctuating from 150.00 to 400.00 somoni. “Our task is to find ways to raise pension rates,” Zuhurov stressed.
Dwelling on the rates of pensions for persons with disabilities, the parliament speaker noted that 11,500 persons with disabilities now receive pensions at the rates fluctuating from 400 to 10,000 somoni. “Some 2,000 of them receive pensions at the rate of up to 2,000 somoni, 170 persons with disabilities receive pensions at the rate of up to 3,000 somoni, 124 persons with disabilities receive pensions at the rate of up to 10,000 somoni and 10 persons with disabilities receive pensions at the rate of more than 10,000 somoni,” Zuhurov said.
Under the amendments made to the law on pensions, the rate of pension for persons with disabilities of category 1 is set at ten minimum pensions (800 somoni), the parliament speaker noted, adding that the maximum pension rate currently set at 400 somoni will be abolished in the future.
