IMF mission leaves without agreement

A mission of the IMF, which arrived here two weeks ago, is leaving today without reaching an agreement on a new review of the stand-by with the government.

Izvor: B92

Friday, 05.11.2010.

10:35

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A mission of the IMF, which arrived here two weeks ago, is leaving today without reaching an agreement on a new review of the stand-by with the government. The IMF said that an official statement will be issued later, explaining why there was no success in the talks on the sixth review of the loan, worth a total of EUR 2.9bn. IMF mission leaves without agreement The future talks on the subject will be held between Belgrade and Washington, i.e., the IMF headquarters, it was also reported. The most important subjects of the revision negotiations were the review of this year's budget, the budget for 2011, and IMF's demand to have the changes to the Law on Pension and Disability Insurance adopted in parliament by the end of the year. At the same time, a deadline is expiring that the country's trade unions gave to the government concerning the controversial draft changes to the pension and disability legislation. The unions said that unless their demands have been met, they would continue collecting signatures in a bid to oust the current government. They also threatened to organize strikes and protests. Reports said that the demands - among others concerning minimal average pensions and the retirement age - were considered at IMF's Washington headquarters. However, Deputy PM Jovan Krkobabic said that the IMF stance on the issue remained unchanged. Krkobabic also stated that thus far the agreement to have the lowest pensions at 27 percent or higher of the average wage has been confirmed. He announced a possibility that the retirement age for women could be "raised starting in 2014, instead of 2011". The government harmonized the original draft law with the IMF and sent it to parliament in August. However, late in October, they withdrew the bill from parliamentary procedure under pressure from the unions, only to send it back unchanged several days later. A recent union protest in Novi Sad (Beta)

IMF mission leaves without agreement

The future talks on the subject will be held between Belgrade and Washington, i.e., the IMF headquarters, it was also reported.

The most important subjects of the revision negotiations were the review of this year's budget, the budget for 2011, and IMF's demand to have the changes to the Law on Pension and Disability Insurance adopted in parliament by the end of the year.

At the same time, a deadline is expiring that the country's trade unions gave to the government concerning the controversial draft changes to the pension and disability legislation.

The unions said that unless their demands have been met, they would continue collecting signatures in a bid to oust the current government. They also threatened to organize strikes and protests.

Reports said that the demands - among others concerning minimal average pensions and the retirement age - were considered at IMF's Washington headquarters.

However, Deputy PM Jovan Krkobabić said that the IMF stance on the issue remained unchanged.

Krkobabić also stated that thus far the agreement to have the lowest pensions at 27 percent or higher of the average wage has been confirmed.

He announced a possibility that the retirement age for women could be "raised starting in 2014, instead of 2011".

The government harmonized the original draft law with the IMF and sent it to parliament in August. However, late in October, they withdrew the bill from parliamentary procedure under pressure from the unions, only to send it back unchanged several days later.

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