The decision the increase salaries in the education and health sectors will come into force on July 1 of this year, aswork is being done on a fiscal package that eases the tax burden for young people and families with children, the Minister of Finance Ervin Mete said on

Friday during an event on Global Money Week organized in Tirana.

"With the salary increase that will take place in June, the education sector receives the largest support from all other sectors, with nearly 110 million euros, intended only for salaries in the education system. The cumulative increase in the last 2 years alone ranges from 35% to

60% for teachers. Of course, this translates into a better quality education," said Mete.

The increase at similar levels will be for nurses and family doctors. The Minister of Finance pointed out that the government is working on a fiscal package that eases the tax on the salary for young people up to 29 years old.

"We are discussing and now we are in a good economic moment, to translate it into redistribution and increased welfare for the citizens. We will have two targeted groups: young people and children, which means if a young person up to the age of 29 is employed we will allow them to have a deduction from their tax liability, just because of their age, to promote their employment," said Mete.

He said that the Ministry of Finance is considering special deductions from the tax liability for children in foster care under theage of 18, because of course someone who receives income and has one or two dependent children is not in the same position as someone who receives that income and has no dependent children.

According to the government's program, the reform undertaken in 2023 for the salary increase will be finalized by the end of 2024. Thus, within 2024 the average salary in the central budget administration, from 71,630 lek currently, will go to about 107,257 lek/month, or about 900 euro/month at the end of 2024.

There will also be salary increases for the employees inthe local self-government units, aiming to narrow the gap that exists between this category and the employees of the central institutions.

Following the salary increase approved in 2023, a significant increase in the salary of employees in the education sector is expected this year.

For pre-university education workers, they will have a salary increase of 31.3%, which will lead to a cumulative increase for teachers at 38%, or a value of 28,900 Lek/month, bringing the monthly salary from 75,900 Lek/month to 104,800 Lek/month.

The salary increase for doctors and nurses in 2024 willbe from Lek 15,000 to Lek 20,000 per month.

In the decision, it is estimated that in the health sector, the salaries of specialist doctors have increased significantly, bringing the average gross salary of a doctor up to 174,000 Lek/month.

In 2023, nurses and other health workers received asalary increase of 7% or a value of 3,600 Lek/month and for 2024 they will benefit from an increase of 15,000 Lek/month.