Pensioners in Tuzla Canton are preparing for protests on Saturday. They are aware that the system of intergenerational solidarity is in a major crisis and that they are on a begging stick with an average pension amounting to 40 percent of the average salary.
Reporters Federal television Azri Bećirović demonstrated what their shopping day looks like and what they have left when they add up all the bills. Reform of the pension system is only possible if a better business environment for employment and new investments is ensured.
The lowest pension in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina paid for December was 573 marks, while the guaranteed one was 684 marks. Due to low pensions, some basic necessities of life have become luxuries for many pensioners.
How to survive the moon?
As the prices of basic foodstuffs and communal services are constantly increasing, pensioners are asking the authorities at all levels: how to survive the month?
Ramiz Šehić, a pensioner from Tuzla, says he barely manages to survive on the pension he receives. Many staples of life are luxuries for Ramiz. Once the utilities are paid, there is very little money left for food items.
“I buy polenta, buns, matches, calcium. That’s all. A pension could fit in a backpack. This is 30 marks. If I didn’t have children, I wouldn’t be able to live,” Ramiz tells us.
Inflation and price growth have particularly affected pensioners with the lowest pensions. When they receive their 573 marks at the beginning of the month, by the time they pay utilities and buy medicine, they have almost nothing left. They often state that they feel like magicians, because they no longer know how they manage to survive the moon.
“They go to the cauldron. It is a shame that a pensioner is going to the cauldron. That he gets a meal in the kitchen, in Merhamet or any other organization. That’s a shame!” warns Huso Halilović, president of the Union of TK pensioners’ associations.
Contributions are the envy of pensions
The Association of Pensioners also states that they are concerned about the thinking of businessmen who are in favor of reducing the amount of contributions, because pensions depend on this money.
“There are other levies and taxes that can be waived. But if you don’t pay the worker enough money to have a safe old age, then this society is headed for total ruin,” says Halilović.
The pensioners’ union of TK will not join the announced pensioners’ protest, which will be held in Tuzla on Saturday, because, as they say, pensioners should seek their rights where laws are passed – in Sarajevo. The organizers state that they will try to organize protests in other BiH after Tuzla. cities.
“We have a society where we have extremely rich and worryingly poor people. That’s why we go to the protests”, says Vehid Jahić, president of the Tuzla Pensioners’ Party
And while the prices of food are rising extremely, many fellow citizens are more hungry than full, wondering if they will have enough to survive tomorrow.
