Argentina to give gift tip to every pensioner

Special Report:Global Financial Crisis

BUENOS AIRES, Dec. 15 (Chinese media) -- The Argentine government announced Monday

it would give a gift tip of 200 pesos (58 U.S. dollars) to each pensioner before

the end of this year as a measure to stimulate consumption amid world financial

crisis.

The measure, which will benefit some 5 million retired people, is part of

the country's "anti-crisis kit," said Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de

Kirchner.

She said the money stood as "a kind of recognition, a sort of reward for

these men and women who contribute so much to this country."

The gift tip means an income increase of 30 percent for some 76percent of

all the pensioners in the country, according to the president.

The government on the same day also announced an investment plan of some

111 billion pesos (32.2 billion U.S. dollars) in public projects, which is

expected to significantly boost the country's employment.