Czech pensions may rise

Czech Labour Minister Pavel Nečas has announced that pensions will rise in the country by an average of 465 Crowns (around 27 USD) from August. The official reason for this rise is the unexpected increase in the price of a number of basic goods in recent months. However, government rules state that such exceptional rises in pensions can only be implemented when prices rise by an average of 10%. At present, price rises are around 5.1% a month. As a result, Mr Nečas has proposed an amendment which would allow pension rises in conditions of price rises of 5% or more.