Trade unions seek compensations for all persons on incomes lower than minimum subsistence level

All the people on incomes lower than the minimum subsistence level should receive compensations in the cold period of the year, said Ana Moldovanu, division head at the National Confederation of Trade Unions of Moldova, Info-Prim Neo reports. She said that after the latest rise in the gas and heat charges, the payments for public utilities represent 70-80% of the salary incomes and this is a reason for concern as, according to statistics, more than half of the working population earns less than 2,000 lei. “The people can afford nothing but food. The Government should provide compensations not only to the persons who have pensions and salaries lower than 700 lei, but to all those whose incomes are lower than the minimum subsistence level of 1,450 lei,” said Ana Moldovanu. According to SA Termocom, the residents of Chisinau paid only 40% of the heat consumed in December and January. “After the gas increased in price, we asked that the heat charge be raised by 109 lei, from 821 lei to 930 lei/Gcal. The national energy regulator accepted a rise of only 77 lei. We will try to work with the consumers, but it is very hard. Even if the court rules in our favor, it is often impossible to implement the court decisions as the persons have neither money nor property that they could sell to pay the debts,” said the director of SA Termocom Mihai Cernei. The new heat charges approved on February 2 will take effect after they are published in the Official Gazette.