Head of the Association of Senior Citizens in Iceland, Helgi Hjálmsson, has criticized Prime Minister Geir H. Haarde for not mentioning the situation of senior citizens in his key note speech to the Althingi parliament on Tuesday.
Hjálmsson said he was pleased the prime minister wanted to improve the situation of those who live of minimum wages, because 11,000 senior citizens live in poverty so the lowest pension payments needs to be increased, ruv.is reports.
Hjálmsson suggests that if the pension does not cover the cost of basic needs for senior citizens, the Social Insurance Department should contribute with a monthly fee to help pensioners get by.
Minister of Social Welfare Jóhanna Sigurdardóttir is positive towards the suggestion, Hjálmsson said, but it had been left out in Haarde’s address on Tuesday.
Click here to read more about the prime minister’s key note speech.
