Pushing the pace on reform
The reforms are crucial to curb public spending and cut its budget deficit in time to join the eurozone at the end of this decade.
In November, increasingly anti-reform deputies voted to reject a bill that would raise social security contributions from the self-employed and a bill to change the method of granting retirement payments. "We hope parliament will begin work on the two bills, in their ammended versions ... There are many signals that they may be passed," Hausner said.
The government says legislation passed so far gives almost zł.24 billion of the originally promised zł.54 billion in savings between 2004-2007. However, Hausner gave no indication how much the legislation will save.
The government is working on changes to two other bills cutting budget subsidies for the farmers' pension system and promoting employment of the disabled. Hausner said he hoped the bills would make it through committees and further parliamentary votes before the next general election on June 19.
"I will be waiting for amendments for the bills [to be proposed by the Social Policy Minister] and I hope that the pace will be appropriate. We have to take into account that soon the parliament will cease work on any bills.
"I would not like to see again the situation from before the last elections, where many bad bills were pushed through.
"I can bear it if the parliament does not support some important laws, but we cannot allow legislation to be approved that would be catastrophic for public finances," he said. (Reuters)
In November, increasingly anti-reform deputies voted to reject a bill that would raise social security contributions from the self-employed and a bill to change the method of granting retirement payments. "We hope parliament will begin work on the two bills, in their ammended versions ... There are many signals that they may be passed," Hausner said.
The government says legislation passed so far gives almost zł.24 billion of the originally promised zł.54 billion in savings between 2004-2007. However, Hausner gave no indication how much the legislation will save.
The government is working on changes to two other bills cutting budget subsidies for the farmers' pension system and promoting employment of the disabled. Hausner said he hoped the bills would make it through committees and further parliamentary votes before the next general election on June 19.
"I will be waiting for amendments for the bills [to be proposed by the Social Policy Minister] and I hope that the pace will be appropriate. We have to take into account that soon the parliament will cease work on any bills.
"I would not like to see again the situation from before the last elections, where many bad bills were pushed through.
"I can bear it if the parliament does not support some important laws, but we cannot allow legislation to be approved that would be catastrophic for public finances," he said. (Reuters)
