Govt to introduce food allowance if necessary, PM says

Ljubljana – The government might introduce a food allowance in the autumn if the soft measures fail to do their job, Prime Minister Robert Golob indicated on Friday. “In October, we will see whether more rigorous measures will be needed as regards food price regulation,” he added.

Talking to the press on the sidelines of his visit to Drama SNG theatre in Ljubljana, Golob said that the government first approached the energy price hikes because they were a much bigger problem, as prices had gone up by 300-500%.

While energy price measures have already been introduced, soft regulation measures for food prices will start in September with price monitoring, the prime minister said. It was announced yesterday that the Ljubljana-based company April 8 had been chosen for the job.

“We will monitor the basic foods prices continuously. The selection will not be fixed and will be changed up every week or two. We will see the evolution of prices through time and compare them to the same products in neighbouring countries,” Golob said.

He hopes the effects of what he calls soft regulation, as well as its effects on inflation will become clear in September. A month later, the government will see whether more rigorous measures will be needed.

Retailers have been blaming the growth in prices on higher energy cost, therefore, the government capped energy prices first, said Golob. “This way we want to take away from the industry and retailers this excuse to raise prices, including of food. In the autumn and winter, we will be able to feel this in our pockets.”

Yesterday, Golob said that it would become clear next week who and how many people will be eligible for the energy allowance, how high it will be and when it will be paid out. He said the government estimates that about 50,000 families will be eligible.

He said this will be followed by a special open call through which the government aims too help people who might have slipped through the system but still require help with paying their energy bills.

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