Government announces second pension update, signals changes in September, economics expert explains…

The government has officially launched a 2.7% pension indexation starting in July, a decision brought forward because of rising inflation, while a fundamental review of the scheme is being signaled for September in cooperation with the World Bank.

But while the ministry speaks of approval processes and consultations, economics expert Kujtim Hoxha is raising the alarm about what is really happening to pensioners’ pockets. According to the expert, this 2.7% indexation is “a mockery,” because by the end of the month pensioners benefit from an increase of only 60 new leks, a figure that does not even cover the rise in the prices of the goods they have consumed during this period.

Hoxha sharply criticizes the lack of transparency over the 230 million euros that had been promised as a spring bonus and which, according to him, could have brought a benefit of 130 thousand old leks for every pensioner if they had been distributed properly.

While the government is waiting until September to present the changes, the expert explains that the current scheme is also being viewed with concern by the World Bank as a system in need of fundamental change, describing the current bonus as simply a “candy” to calm public anger at a time when pensioners are living in miserable conditions.

Here is what expert Hoxha says

The 2.7% indexation is a mockery, and it is also regrettable that this figure is 60 leks. These citizens receive 60 leks a month. In fact, there are 755,000 pensioners, and for them this pension increase at this level is very problematic because it does not meet their needs. However, we should say that this should have happened back in February. The global crisis has had its impact. All the governments of other countries have made this change.

Citizens have consumed goods and services during this period at increased prices and today they receive 5,000 old leks for each month, which does not meet the citizen’s needs. To explain it in one sentence, pensioners benefit from a 5,000 old lek increase and also the 50,000 lek bonus only this month? To explain the 50,000 lek bonus, we need to keep in mind several questions that also require answers.

At the end of 2025, the 2026 budget was approved in the Albanian Parliament, where both the method and the rule that would serve as a mechanism to reward citizens in retirement were determined, and it was said that all unused funds by the end of 2025 would go toward the spring bonus. 230 million euros were collected, for which I want them to explain why this bonus was not used, especially at a time of crisis such as the one in Albania.