The Committee on the Matters of Pensioners, Veterans and Disabled People upholds the passing of the Bill on The State Budget of Ukraine 2008 at the First Reading and in its entirety, as a Law subject to further revision and mandatory amendments in the first quarter of 2008, under the laid down procedure, to enhance the social protection of the most vulnerable section of society, i.e. Senior Citizens, Veterans and The Disabled, and to optimize the Budget expenditure.
Having studied the Bill introduced by the Cabinet of Ministers, the Committee Members pointed out its complex nature, as it not only designates revenue and expenditure for major fund administrators, but also aims to amend a number of legislative acts increasing Budget Revenue and optimizing expenditure.
The Committee stressed that a failure to pass this Bill in its present state, as a Law of Ukraine, until the end of this year, will lead to serious problems at the beginning of 2008 with regard to the payment of Retirement Benefits and Social Aid.
The discussion highlighted several positive provisions in the document. The Bill envisages increased, compared with 2007, growth rates for basic social standards and guarantees (living wages and minimum wage), which, in the opinion of The People's Deputies, will enhance the general wellbeing of individuals, including Senior Citizens, Veterans and the Disabled, and will raise the level and amounts of all social expenditure.
The People's Deputies also uphold the decision of the Government to cease the practice of terminating, for the current year, several social clauses in the legislative acts of Ukraine, and among them The Law of Ukraine 'On the Social Protection of Children of War´ and 'On Rehabilitation of the Disabled in Ukraine'.
At the same time, some provisions in the Bill caused certain concerns among the Committee Members. These included the attempt to amend, by passing The State Budget of Ukraine 2008, several current legislative acts, including such basic social legislative acts as The Laws of Ukraine 'On the Obligatory State Retirement Insurance', 'On the Status of War Veterans and Guarantees for their Social Protection', 'On the Victims of Nazi Persecution', 'On the Basic Principles of Social Protection for Labour Veterans and other Elderly People in Ukraine', etc. The major concern of The People's Deputies was caused by 'attempts to assign to The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine functions defining the specific levels of benefits and compensation and ‘one-off´ aid, including that provided for Victory Day and given to Disabled Veterans, and those who were involved in military action.'
The Committee Members also expressed criticism of several Clauses of the Bill related to the usage of Special Purpose Funds, intended for the setting up of workplaces for the Disabled, funding their social, vocational, physical training and sports rehabilitation, etc.
The Committee emphasised the demand to optimize the mechanism for provision of benefits (such as relating to travel, public utility payments, etc) to certain categories of individuals, and among them the Disabled and War Children, dependent on the overall income per family member in the Benefit user's family.
The People's Deputies were concerned by the very low level of expenditure allocated in the Bill on The State Budget 2008, towards the implementation of Programmes for social protection of the Disabled.