Belgrade – The Minister of Finance, Sinisa Mali, confirmed that all those working for entrepreneurs, who are employed in small and medium-sized enterprises, will receive from the state 60 percent of the minimum wage by August 10, as well as in September. He pointed out that the state had found a way to allocate direct funds for the economy and employees.

“Upon paying three minimum wages for 1,050,000 employees in 235,000 businesses in the previous three months, we found the room to continue with these measures, so that another 60 percent of the minimum wage will be paid to employees over the next two months, while salary taxes and contributions will be postponed by one month. The first payment will reach the employees by August 10, while the second payment will follow in September. That is 18,000 dinars or 155 euros per employee", Minister Mali said.

He underscored that the previous support package was worth 5.1 billion euros, and that those additional allocations would cost the state another 66 billion dinars.

He also said that a legal act was expected to be adopted at the session of the Government of Serbia at the beginning of the following week, which would clearly define the continuation of direct financial assistance for businessmen.

“We will try to make this process as easy and efficient as possible, so that everyone could get their money as easily as possible, " the Minister of Finance said.

“With this additional support, we reach the amount of about 5.7 billion euros, which is 12.2 percent of our GDP. So, the state will set aside 36 billion dinars for 60 percent of the amount of the minimum wage for two months, while the postponement of salary taxes and contributions by one month will cost us around 30 billion dinars, "Minister Mali said.  

Minister Mali said that the project "My First Salary" would start soon, which means that the state will pay entrepreneurs 20,000 dinars for the employment of persons with secondary school qualifications, and 24,000 dinars for persons with university qualifications.

 Source: “Tanjug” news agency and Coordination Body