The Committee members supported the proposals during the debate at the Committee meeting on May 18 dedicated to the situation with the appointment of housing subsidies and providing the population with state support in 2014-2016.
The meeting was attended by MPs, Minister of Social Policy A.Reva, representatives of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Commissioner on Human Rights, ministries, other state government bodies, national associations of trade unions and employers' organizations, and scientists.
Committee Chairperson Liudmyla Denisova drew attention to the increased number of subsidy recipients: "If in December 2014 subsidies for reimbursement of housing and communal services were received by 1.1 million families or 6.5% of the entire number of families in Ukraine, then in March 2016 such state support was provided to 5.1 million families or 34% of the entire number of families in Ukraine."
First Deputy Chairperson of the Committee Serhii Kaplin said that spending of state funds for the appointment of housing subsidies hampers development of the country and is an unbearable burden for its population.
Committee Chairperson Liudmyla Denisova said in the concluding address: "The government shall revise the policy of support to the population in the conditions of growing prices / tariffs for energy resources. It is unacceptable that the average size of subsidies for housing and utility services, which in March 2016 was almost UAH 1,200, exceeded the minimum pension of UAH 1,074. This "pyramid" must be overturned and therefore we all need to work on changing priorities in the field of social protection of the population."
Following the discussion of the issue of the appointment of housing subsidies and provision of state support to the population, the Committee approved the relevant recommendations in principle.
In particular, the Ministry of Social Policy was recommended to immediately elaborate and submit to the Cabinet of Ministers a draft plan of measures for 2016-2017 concerning implementing the strategy of overcoming the poverty in order to ensure growth of incomes of the population, including through the introduction of new approaches to formation of minimal social standards and guarantees, including subsistence level, and by raising the minimum wage as a result of improving the mechanism for its determination.
You can find the text of the Recommendations of the Committee here.