Belgrade, Feb. 22, 2010, (Serbia Today) – According to the statement by the Serbian Minister of Labor and Social Politics Rasim Ljajic to the press, the number of citizens living bellow the poverty line in 2009 was higher that in previous years. It is estimated that some 670.000 to 700.000 people in Serbia lives bellow poverty line, which is close to 10% of total population.
In 2008, this index was at 7.9%. Some 160.000 people has been covered by the state welfare programs at the moment, and thanks to the new welfare law that is in making, welfare benefits will be extended this year to another 90.000 recipients, Ljajic told reporters.
He also added that extra expense on welfare will put more burden on the budget, and the amount of money that will be separated for this purposes depend on the ability of country’s economy to get out of economic crisis.
Minister Ljajic hopes that this will be achieved by 2011. The most vulnerable groups of citizens at the moment are retired people over 65, young children, single mothers, families with more than six members, and families in rural areas of Serbia.
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