Serbian Government adopted on 22 February, a Regulation on the Exercise of Special Rights of Former Workers of the Serbian Interior Ministry in Kosovo and Metohija, thus meeting the demands of 1200 workers, Serbian media reported.
Representative of (former) police service for Mitrovica, Rajko Šekularac, said yesterday at a press conference, the most important change is that the new regulation prescribe pensions are no longer temporary as it used to be, but belong to the category of special pensions.
“The pensions will now be financed directly from the budget of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, and not from the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund as it has been the case” Šekularac said, adding that it was very important that the pensions can now be inherited under the new Regulation (which was not the case before).
This decree also fulfills the request of former MUP employees that their pensions were increased from 60 to 70% of gross income, earned in 2013, when these workers were retired.
Šekularac added this new Regulation allows former MUP workers to be hired/employed, which was strictly forbidden by the previous regulation.
“We now have the right to open private companies, even work in state institutions under the (temporary) service contract, without entering into permanent employment and payment of insurance, which harmonizes us with other pensioners” Šekularac said.
He noted perhaps the most important change is reflected in the abolition of one article of the old regulation which Šekularac deemed as extremely discriminatory in relation to the freedom of movement.
“This is Article 7, where it was stated that we only have the right to receive pensions as long as we live in Kosovo and Metohija. This is excluded from this regulation, now we are allowed the freedom of movement and residence elsewhere,” Šekularac said.
