(Podgorica, 13 May 2013) – MANS today joined the calls of several NGOs in demanding the the Montenegrin Parliament withdraw the draft Law on Social and Child Protection from its agenda. It also called on the government to engage in public consultations before introducing such a law, especially by including representatives of the most vulnerable social groups in the country.
It’s shameful that the government, while hundreds of millions of our euros are being used to subsidize the Russian owners’ of the Podgorica Aluminum Combine (KAP) and associated tycoons, is at the same time failing to provide the most vulnerable families the minimum needed for living a dignified life.
The government’s intention, among many new proposed measures, to pass this law in order to fill the gaps in the budget created by the activation of loan guarantees that it made on behalf of KAP, is shameful, especially since it targets families in order to do this.
MANS had already prepared a set of amendments to the Draft Law, which were sent to the Parliament, demanding in particular that the amounts granted for the material needs of families not be fixed, but to be determined on a quarterly basis and be indexed to the cost of the basic consumer goods basket for a three month period.
The government’s draft limits payments to €63.50 for individuals and up to €120.70 for families with five or more members. These payments are far below any poverty line and don’t guarantee even elementary dignity for those needing social assistance.
MANS has suggested that the material grants for individuals be indexed at 10% of the consumer basket, while a family with two members receive 20%, three members 30%, four members 40% and that those families with five or more members receive 50%. The cost of a monthly consumer basket in Montenegro at the moment stands around €800.
At the same time, MANS’ amendments propose that personal disability payments be indexed at 25% of the consumer basket, and that the subsidy for care and assistance be set at €100 a month. Furthermore, a child bonus should be secured for all children from families receiving social assistance (and not only the first three children, as the Government’s current proposal suggests).
Due to a range of abuses uncovered in the handing out of one-time social assistance, especially during the election period, MANS has requested that the relevant ministry post on a quarterly basis the reports of all Social Work Centres concerning assistance delivered.
The same should be done by municipalities, who should on a quarterly basis report data on payments made for social protection that is the responsibility of local self-government institutions.
One of the proposed amendments also daily centres also be included as public institutions, which would be open to children and to youth with physical, mental and sensory disabilities, as well as behavioural difficulties (as in the case of children with autism).
It is unacceptable that the law fail to define an institution of this type and in a way that hundreds upon hundreds of families are left to fend for themselves in accommodating members of their families. On the other hand, this violates the basic human rights of persons needing assistance, since they are being socially excluded, which delays their development and opportunities.
In the end, MANS would like to join the call to all citizens to sign the NGO petition, which demands that Montenegro’s representatives not adopt the current Draft Law.
