MPs, Government Discuss Increase of Salaries to Subsistence Level

(Tbilisi, January 10, 2003. Civil Georgia) – MP Zurab Zhvania, leader of the opposition United Democrats faction presented to the MPs and the government representatives a draft on increase of the minimal salary to the subsistence level.

The United Democrats demand to consider additional 116 million Lari (approximately USD 52 million) in the 2003 budget, which would enable to increase minimal salaries to the subsistence level, which equals 115 Lari (USD 52) per month.

Finance Minister Mirian Gogiashvili, which attended the presentation, stated that the increase of salaries would have “disastrous effect on the country’s economy,” although he did not provide any details.

“The government needs time to make an exact calculation of the impact of the increase of salaries to the living wage,” Mirian Gogiashvili stated.

The United Democrats actively push the issue since December. This Parliamentary group refused the support the draft budget in late December because the government rejected United Democrats’ proposal to start discussions over the salaries’ increase.

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