Some older people, retirees and pensioners from Madeira gathered this Thursday in Funchal, on the day that commemorates the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, to demand pension increases.
“The objective of this initiative is to be in solidarity with the initiatives that are taking place throughout the country. Murpi [Confederação Nacional de Reformados, Pensionistas e Idosos] is holding several rallies throughout the country and obviously the problems that are happening in the country are also happening in the autonomous region,” said the president of the Association of Retirees, Pensioners and Seniors of Madeira.
Speaking to journalists in Funchal, Batista Monteiro stated that “A lot is said and little is done” in relation to measures to eradicate poverty, highlighting that Madeira’s objectives are common at the national level, that is, increasing reforms.
The National Confederation of Retirees, Pensioners and Seniors (Murpi) Defends an increase in the value of pensions of 5%in a manifesto sent to the Assembly of the Republic in which he also requests the assignment of a family doctor to all retirees.
The measures are contained in a manifesto sent on Sunday to the deputies of the Assembly of the Republic, with the priorities for the State Budget for 2025.
Regarding pensions, the confederation defends the increase of 5%, in a minimum of 70 euros, and the creation of two more levels for minimum pensions, in order to value long contributory careers and avoiding the use of the solidarity supplement for seniors.
The president of the Association of Retirees, Pensioners and Seniors of the Autonomous Region of Madeira stated that, of the Of the region’s around 250,000 inhabitants, 72,000 are on the poverty line.of which around 20% are pensioners and retirees.
“That around 20% are pensioners and retirees is an exaggeration, but we can easily understand it. With such low pensions, it is clear that retirees have to live on the edge of poverty,” he lamented.
“And this is what we want to combat in our daily lives. We are on a day-to-day basis opposing these situations and demanding political power, demanding increases for all pensions, with a series of demands that concern all retirees in this region,” reinforced Batista Monteiro.
Source: Observadora
