01 April 2011, 13:52
Mykola Tomenko: Increase of the Minimum Level Subsistence by 14 Hryvnias and Raising of Pensions to the Particular Groups is a Humiliating Treatment of the Pensioners
Mykola Tomenko, Deputy Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, believes that increase of the minimum level subsistence by 14 hryvnias and raising of pensions of the particular groups is a humiliating treatment of the pensioners. At the same time, the opposition suggests a mechanism of raising the minimum pensions by 150-200 hryvnias.
The bill "On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine "On the State Budget of Ukraine for the year 2011" (re use of funds from the privatization of Ukrtelecom JSC to raise the minimum pension benefits) (Reg. No. 8323), drafted by People´s Deputies Mykola Tomenko, Natalia Korolevska and Ostap Semerak, was registered in the Parliament. Under the bill, the funds received from the sale of 92,79% of shares of Ukrtelecom JSC in the total of UAH 10 billion 575 million 100,0 thousand shall be directed to the Pension Fund to increase the pensions, the rate of which is lower than the rate of minimum level subsistence for the able-bodied persons as fixed by clause 21 of the Law of Ukraine "On the State Budget of Ukraine for the year 2011." The minimum level subsistence for the able-bodied persons in the year 2011 totals UAH 941 since January 1, UAH 960 since April 1, whereas the minimum pension benefits are fixed at the rate of the minimum level subsistence for the persons who lost their working capacity, i.e. UAH 750 since January 1, UAH 764 since April 1.
The authors of the bill believe that its adoption will significantly improve the safety net of the most underprivileged group of population, i.e. pensioners with the lowest pensions. Moreover, it will provide an effective control over the use of funds received from the privatization of Ukrtelecom JSC.