Baku, Fineko/abc.az. The Azerbaijani MPs have started today considering the Bills on Subsistence Level and on Need Criterion (applied for appointment of targeted social assistance; TAE).

When presenting the document Ziad Samedzadeh, the chairperson of the Parliamentary Social Policy Committee said that the bills envisage increase of subsistence level up to 87 manats and need criterion up to 65 manats since 1 January 2010.

“In the process of our consultations with the government, the latter stated of a possibility of increase of need criterion up to size of subsistence level for the next 3 or 4 years,” Samedzadeh said.

In his turn, MP Fazil Mustafa emphasized that the proposed size of subsistence level does not conform to the requirements of the European Social Charter.

“The Charter stipulates that subsistence level should be at least 50-60% of average wage. AS a result, subsistence level in Azerbaijan cannot be less than 148 manats,” Mustafa said.

13.11.2009 16:34