Pensions will retain their purchasing power next year, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced at the session of the Elderly Affairs Council in Parliament, adding that following the reforms of the past two and a half years, the economy is expected to grow in 2013.

The Prime Minister briefed the council that a 10 per cent cut would be implemented in the case of gas, electricity and district heating prices next year. Water and communal waste disposal fees are also planned to be reduced, he added. According to press reports, the price of gas will also be lowered by 10 per cent in Poland.

Referring to an agreement concluded earlier with pensioner organisations, Viktor Orbán regarded it as a success that the Cabinet did not reduce the purchasing power of pensions in 2012 and this will not change in 2013 either.

In addition, in certain areas of employment where there is a shortage of supply, such as in healthcare, public sector employees may receive a special authorisation to keep their jobs even after reaching the retirement age, he said.

State Secretary for Social, Family and Youth Affairs Miklós Soltész said at the meeting that pensions would be increased by 5.2 per cent from January 1, 2013. The measure will impact more than 2.8 million citizens.

(Prime Minister’s Office)