Mykola Tomenko: The Government shall submit another Bill on the Pension Reform before the Parliamentary Hearings
At the briefing on Wednesday, Mykola Tomenko, Deputy Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine focused on several highly debatable social and humanitarian issues. "The logic of the Government´s actions in the context of the pension, education, and health care reforms is incomprehensible," M.Tomenko admitted.
Mykola Tomenko stressed that the Government shall submit another bill on the pension reform by February, 16 (the scheduled date of the parliamentary hearings on this topic). The Deputy Chairman considers the situation with the submitted bill "On Legislative Support of the Pension Reform" to be obscure. He reminded of the declaration of Serhii Tihipko, Deputy Prime Minister, that the document would be withdrawn. "To guarantee a professional and thorough discussion, the Government should take the following step: withdraw the said bill as such that contains a lot of unconsidered and erroneous ideas," M.Tomenko stated.
Still, the Deputy Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine claimed that the Government had not withdrawn the bill on the pension reform so far. Mykola Tomenko believes that if the Government suggests a new system for implementing the pension reform, it should act in accordance with the Standing Orders and the applicable laws, i.e. withdraw the bill that launches the pension reform since February 1, and submit a new bill afterwards. M.Tomenko reminded that the parliamentary hearings on the pension reform are scheduled for February 16. "If the Government fails to bring forward a new bill, there will be nothing to discuss," the Deputy Chairman stressed.
Mykola Tomenko also pointed out that another governmental initiative might provoke protests among the combatants and eligible persons. Thus, the bill "On the State Guarantees regarding Court Enforcement Action" (Reg. No.7562) actually cancels all the privileges for this group of population, which might be restored by a special resolution of the Government. This issue is topical on the eve of the anniversary of withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan (February 15), and has already given rise to the prerevolutionary moods among the combatants.
The Deputy Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine recommends the parliamentary Committee on the Matters of Pensioners, Veterans and Persons with Disabilities and the Committee on Social Policy and Labour to handle this issue, meet the representatives of respective organizations, and work out the action plan.