PROGRAM OF GOVERNMENT 2017-2020 Social protection The Government’s key objective in the social policy area will be to reduce poverty rates to below 16% by 2020. Measures intended to permanently lift people out of poverty will be introduced immediately and special attention will be dedicated to guaranteeing transparency of the system. The Government will establish a functional, citizen-friendly network of social protection institutions. Some authorities will be transferred to local self-government units as they are closer and better adjusting to citizen needs. The social protection network will include social support services and palliative care for the elderly, nursing, care and inclusion centers, centers for persons with disabilities, housing communities for persons with disabilities over 26 years of age, gender-based violence protection services and protection services for people in need, especially those in social risk. The Government will set up a system of 8 regional agencies for payment of material support in the social protection system. Additionally, we will introduce family social workers who will be close to the citizens and work on prevention and intervention. The number of families cared after by an individual social worker will be subjected to precise standards and norms in view of guaranteeing high-quality social protection, both for the citizens and social workers. The Government will settle the problem of former bankrupt firms’ employees and provide compensation packages for all employees with at least 15-year work experience (52 years of age in case of women and 55 years of age in case of men). The Government will propose cuts in executors’ fees and fees charged to socially deprived defaulters. Execution will be carried out without charging executor tariffs. All families with monthly revenues lower than the average calculated monthly wage will be exempt from paying the total amount of court tariffs and costs, which cannot reach more than 20% of the value of the dispute, while the interest cumulative cannot be higher than the principal. The Government’s social policy will incorporate the following measures and policies: ∎ Introduce Minimum Adequate Revenue Program ∎ Introduce a social debit card – Solidarity ∎ Legal amendments in view of introducing tenure, instead of property, rights on social housing. Social flats will merge into collective housing managed by the local self-government. Right to tenure will be given to persons within the social protection system and low-income persons, as well as young couples and persons with disabilities who do not owe property. ∎ Opening of overnight shelters and food corners for homeless persons in cooperation with national and local non-for-profit organizations in all municipalities in need. With regard to the pensions system, the Government will stabilize the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund, guaranteeing regular and sustainable payment of pensions. Reconciliation of pensions will be done twice a year and the Government will provide 9