The pension
reform will enable us to develop a deficit-free and fair pension system in the
country and to revise the
retirement payments already this year. This was announced by Prime Minister of
Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman
during A Question Time for the Government at the Verkhovna
Rada of Ukraine on Friday.
“The next
step is an increase of pensions for the Ukrainian citizens. It is possible when
in this session hall we will adopt a decision, I hope in the nearest possible
time, in the coming months , on the comprehensive
pension reform. It will provide an opportunity to build a deficit-free pension
system on fairness principle and will enable us this year already to update
retirement payments”, stressed the Head of the Government.
The
increase of pensions is the next step after a twofold rise of the minimum pay,
promised by the Government and implemented with a support of the parliamentary coalition.
Volodymyr
Groysman noted the salaries for teachers had been
increased by 50%, as well as those for doctor’s - by
30%.
The Head of
the Government assumes the pension reform will be the subject of "populist
attacks" and calls on political forces to advocate the new system which is
aimed to work for benefits of millions of Ukrainians.
Referring
to some political forces appeals about raising the minimum wage up to UAH 5000,
the Prime Minister pledged his support, however it should
align with the economical potential.
“I do not
want it to be 5 (UAH thousand as a minimum wage), I want it to reach 10 (UAH
thousand). I’d prefer people to receive
decent wages, but we must judge from the real potential of the economy and the
private sector. Today it has become possible to make it UAH 3200, when we have
a chance to make it UAH 5000, I will always stand by this decision, support it
to ensure absolute benefits for the working Ukrainian citizens. But there is a
time for everything”, underlined the Prime Minister.
"Every
day we work in Government, we think about the economy, economic growth, which will
give us the opportunity to improve minimal wages and other welfare benefits. It
is vital to draw a line in the issue of impoverishment of the Ukrainian
citizens. We must provide a chance for the people to live a normal life. We cannot
accept everything to decline, we must trigger an upward development, encourage
development of the Ukrainian economy and to give our citizens what they deserve.
This is my ideology, my stance and I am committed to stand for it”, summed up
the Prime Minister.
