New Turkmen President Restores Pensions

The new Code of Social Guarantees, published by official newspapers today, also resumes monthly maternity payments of $10, which are paid for 18 months after the birth of a child.

It raises pensions for widows of World War II veterans to $40 a month.

The minimum pension in Turkmenistan is currently $12 per month.

The move is part of a series of reforms reversing policies set by Berdymukhammedov's predecessor, Saparmurat Niyazov, who died in December.

In February 2006, Niyazov took pensions away from more than 100,000 retirees, mostly farmers, slashed pensions for others, and canceled maternity payments, citing budget problems.

(AP, Interfax, Turkmen TV)