No cuts for salaries, pensions up to RSD 25,000

BELGRADE - There will be no cuts for salaries in the public sector and pensions up to RSD 25,000, while those above that amount will most likely be subject to a linear reduction of 10 - 10.5 percent, Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said late Thursday.

"This means that most pensioners - 60.2 percent of them - will not see their pensions cut", the prime minister told the RTS, speaking about new budgetary austerity measures.

"I know how hard life is for people. We tried to protect the poorest," the prime minister said.

We wanted to cut costs, but so that the people can live, achieve progress and save their jobs, Vucic said.

"But if the measures are successful - and I do believe in the plan and in a healthy Serbia - we will be a normal country in 2016, with a healthy economy."