Pension benefits in Central Asian countries are often insufficient to meet basic needs, and the elderly rely on the help of relatives. In extreme cases, pension is enough for less than two kilos of meat, – writes the website of Radio Svoboda in a special study. But “Soviet” pensioners are in a privileged situation.
Retirees receive the minimum pension in Tajikistan, which is equivalent to 18 US dollars, Radio Svoboda reports, based on information from the authorities of Central Asian countries.
Pensioners in Kazakhstan can count on the highest pension (equivalent to 110 US dollars), while the situation is slightly worse in Kyrgyzstan (80 dollars) and Uzbekistan (65 dollars).
A benefit that is close to the minimum for most retirees
This website does not provide data from the fifth post-Soviet country, Turkmenistan, mainly due to the inability to determine the Turkmen manat equivalent when converted to US dollars – while the official government exchange rate is set at approximately 3.5 manats per dollar. In practice, there is a black market rate of 25 to 30 manats per US dollar.
The authorities of Ishqabad set the minimum pension effective from January 1 at 550 manats, which will be equal to 157 US dollars, but taking into account the conditions and exchange rates of the black market, it should be assumed that the value of the benefit will be from 18 to 22 dollars. .
Although some retirees, like in other countries of the world, receive more benefits, experts believe that most retirees in Central Asia receive the least amount of benefits. In Kazakhstan, the highest pension is about 1,800 dollars, in Kyrgyzstan it is 1,150 dollars, there is no information about Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, but according to the regulations in force in Tajikistan, the authorities do not reveal the highest amount of pensions. because a few years ago, the public opinion was that the difference in benefits is up to 50 times.
“Soviet” pensions.
In most of the countries discussed, pensioners who started working during the Soviet Union are in a privileged situation. Jamal Temirgalieva, a pensioner from Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, receives a pension of PLN 259,000. coin (about $500). In an interview with Radio Svoboda, he said that he was lucky because he received the so-called “Soviet” pension.
– My work experience is 36 years. I receive the so-called Soviet pension, which is calculated according to the length of service until January 1, 1998. Moreover, I voluntarily paid additional pension contributions. But despite all this, I live without luxury, said Jamol Temirgalieva
Expenses
Some costs in Central Asia – compared to Poland – are at a very low level (utilities, rent, electricity, gas, etc.). However, it should be taken into account that food is relatively expensive in developed countries. Most food products (except for the most basic products, for example, groats or flour) are more expensive than in Central European countries, and the lowest salaries are not enough for, for example, 2 kilograms of meat.
Mavjuda Rahmonova, a pensioner from the city of Khujand, in northern Tajikistan, claims that her expenses are many times higher than her pension. “One kilo of meat costs 105-110 somoni (10 dollars) in the market. I bought meat for 40 somoni. This should be enough for me for 3-4 weeks,” said the pensioner in an interview with Radio Svoboda.
The vast majority of retirees in Central Asian countries admit that their children and close relatives help them financially. Everyone who has the ability and strength will receive additional money. However, many of them live in poverty.
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