The
bill (Reg. No.7039) imposes a moratorium on raising the retirement age
for women by
1 January 2010.
The Committee declared that "an attempt to solve the existing problems in the financial situation of the Pension Fund at the expense of raising the retirement age for women does not solve the problems with the Pension Fund deficit, as the reduction of its expenses in 2011 by UAH 2 billion will comprise less than 3 per cent from the expected amount of the deficit."
The Committee members emphasised that "a pledge of success of the pension reform is a comprehensive implementation of the economic reforms to enhance the quality of life, improve the medical services and public health care, settle the environmental problems, improve the demographic situation and increase the life expectancy rate of the Ukrainian citizens." According to the People´s Deputies, this step is to be preceded by " improving the situation in the labour market and preparing this market for the labour force of older age."
The parliamentarians are convinced that "before raising the retirement age, systemic changes in retirement insurance should be made, esp. system stabilization, realization of the second grade of pension insurance, etc."
The Committee members stated that with the adoption of the Law "On Compulsory State Pension Insurance", the provisions of the Law "On Pension Insurance" were used only in the part of the right for an old age pension and a length-of-service pension. The terms of allotting the old age pension and fixing the retirement age are defined by clause 26 of the Law "On Compulsory State Pension Insurance."