Human Rights Action (HRA) protests the rejection of the Social Democrats’ (SD) amendments to the 2025 Budget Proposal, which aimed to increase material support for the most vulnerable groups of the population and to provide free transportation and meals for children from socially disadvantaged families. Considering that the proposed social benefits for the year are insufficient to cover even two months’ worth of a trade union consumer basket, we urge that these amounts be increased so that they can meet the basic living needs of citizens affected by poverty, especially children. The United Nations Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights recommended this for Montenegro back in 2014.

The SD amendments were rejected without explanation, although increasing social assistance could have been financed by reducing expenditures for official travel, representation, and consulting services, which would not have led to an increase in budgetary spending.

The total increase in the family material support budget  for 2025, amounting to only 500,000 euros, represents a mere 5% increase compared to 2024, which is insufficient for a significant improvement in the situation of the most vulnerable groups. Although a semi-annual adjustment of the MOP is planned, according to trends over the last decade and the current allocation dynamics, the potential increase will amount to only 10 to 15 euros per family per month.

Given the 3.3% inflation rate in 2024 and the continued rise in living costs, the current social benefits of 220.45 euros for a family of four (160.45 euros for MOP and 60 euros for two children, based on the January 2025 figures) are far from sufficient for basic living expenses. The situation is further exacerbated by the fact that the trade union consumer basket amounted to 1,970 euros in the fourth quarter of 2024, meaning that the current social benefits cover only a tenth (11.2%) of the amount needed for a dignified life. In other words, the total projected social benefits for the year are not enough to cover the costs of the trade union consumer baskets even for two months.

We once again call for social (material) benefits to be increased so that they can meet basic living needs, and for social benefits to be carefully directed toward the most vulnerable populations.

We remind that in 2014, the UN Committee recommended that Montenegro:

• Establish a system for collecting statistical data on the implementation of economic, social, and cultural rights;
• Ensure that its national plans, programs, and strategies related to human rights include mechanisms for monitoring and assessing their implementation, with the aim of ensuring that even temporary results are available at any stage of their application;
• Increase the amount of social benefits to ensure an adequate standard of living for individuals and families, particularly for the unemployed, elderly, and persons with disabilities;
• Increase budget allocations for the healthcare system and take effective measures against corruption in healthcare;
• Establish shelters for the homeless;
• Ensure appropriate care for individuals who, due to lack of appropriate housing, continue to reside in the psychiatric hospital in Dobrota, even though their health condition permits them to leave the hospital (so-called social patients).

Unfortunately, none of these recommendations have been fulfilled to date. We expect the Minister of Social Welfare, Family Care, and Demography, Damir Gutić, to consider the recommendations of the UN Committee, provide the necessary data, and take action to ensure an adequate standard of living for the most vulnerable.