Azerbaijan plans $160 living cost in 2014

The draft laws 'On Living Cost' and 'On the level of need criteria for 2014' have been proposed for the consideration of Azerbaijani Parliament's plenary session.

The draft laws were considered on Wednesday at the meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Social Policy.

According to the draft law, the cost of living in the country will be increased from 116 manats this year to 125 manats in 2014, including for the working-age population - up to 136 manats (125 manats in 2013), for children and pensioners - to 103 manats (93 manats and 94 manats respectively).

The draft law 'On the level of need criteria for 2014' envisages an increase of this criterion for targeted social assistance (TSA) to 100 manats from 93 manats this year.

In 2014, the socially directed expenditures of the state budget are forecasted at 5.337 billion manats with an increase by 5.9 per cent or 298.9 million manats compared to the forecasted figures of the current year, and by 597.1 million manats or 12.6 per cent compared with the actual performance in 2012.

The state budget also incorporated financial provision with regard to the increase in salaries and benefits, which were announced in 2013.

Some 15.1 per cent of socially directed expenditures, or 3.034 billion manats will account for wages, 9.1 per cent or 1.82 billion manats - for pensions and social benefits, 1.5 per cent or 305.3 million manats - for the purchase food products, 0.9 per cent or 176.9 million manats - for the purchase of medicines and bandages.


/Trend/