Salaries, pensions to be paid in full and on time, finance minister says

Chisinau, 25 March /MOLDPRES/- Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Puscuţa, Minister of Finance, said that despite the crisis caused by the spread of COVID-19, the government will pay in full and on time salaries, pensions and other social benefits.

Pusccuța noted that the government is considering the possibility to shorten the term of payment of social benefits and provide wage increases to those directly involved in combating the COVID-19 epidemic.

The deputy prime minister said that the specialists of the Ministry of Finance are working on the draft law for the rectification of the state budget for 2020, which will reflect the real evolution of the economy in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the cost of combating actions. "Our goals are to support both people in need of treatment and those who have suffered as a result of the restrictions imposed on economic activities. We will support the business environment. We will impose austerity regime in financing the budgetary expenses for the maintenance of public authorities”, he said.

He also approached urgent measures to support the business environment, approved at the 23 March meeting of the Commission for Emergencies. In this context, he noted that next week, the government will come up with another package of measures that includes several actions with financial impact, which will support the business environment during the crisis period.

"We support the efforts of economic agents who continue to support their employees even though the volume of services they provide has been significantly reduced. We will do our best to make investments in budget infrastructure. We will support in parallel the social sphere and the real sector of the economy ”, he said.

In connection with the situation created by the spread of COVID-19, the government intervention fund will be increased by about 150 million lei.