Poll: Most Czechs prefer wider social services to higher benefits

Prague, Nov 30 (CTK) - Most Czechs would like the state to extend the offer of social services rather than raise welfare benefits, according to a public opinion poll the STEM agency released Tuesday.

The poll showed that people would welcome an extension of the state financial aid to families with children, which they would prefer to increasing pensions.

At the same time, people's support to egalitarianism in the calculation of pensions has been on the rise, the poll showed.

Sixty-five percent of Czechs would prefer an extension of social services to an increase in welfare benefits. This trend has continued for ten years now.

An increase in financial benefits is mainly demanded by people with lower education. Those with secondary and higher education, and also those who consider themselves relatively well-off prefer an extension of social services.

Asked to decide whether the state should raise old-age pensions or its financial help to families with children, 60 percent of the respondents said they would prefer the latter alternative, the poll showed.

Out of individual political parties' supporters, only supporters of the Communist party (KSCM) would prefer an increase in pensions.

Nevertheless, the opinion that pensions should be increased has been strengthening among Czechs.

Before 2004, those who preferred an increase in pensions made up 23 to 32 percent of people. The proportion has been rising since 2007 and now it stands at 40 percent.

About 55 percent of Czechs believe that people with higher incomes should have higher pensions.

The rest would like all pensioners to receive practically equal pensions. The portion of people who are of this view has risen by 11 percent in the past 12 years.

STEM conducted the poll on 1255 respondents aged over 18 on November 1-8.