MP from the OPPOSITION BLOC Serhiy Lovochkin appealed to the government with a demand to urgently take systemic measures to eliminate salary debt, which is the largest in the last 15 years and amounts to more than UAH 2 billion.

“Only in April 2017, the wage arrears increased by 5.6% and reached UAH 2.1 billion. This is the largest indicator for the last 15 years. In general, the debt since the beginning of the year increased by 22%,” MP's deputy inquiry says to Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman.

Serhiy Lovochkin noted that since the beginning of the year the number of people who did not receive a salary on time increased from 96 to 146 thousand. “At the same time, the average amount of debt was UAH 7 774 per person, or 116.7% of the average monthly salary for April,” the MP noted.

According to him, for most citizens, wages are the only source of income, so its non-payment leads to a significant deterioration in life. “This triggered social protest actions, including strikes during the past and current years in some coal, energy, chemical industries, educational institutions and health care institutions,” the politician said.

“In view of this, there is great concern that in the Plan of Priority Actions of the Government for 2017 and the Medium-Term Plan of Priority Actions of the Government until 2020, the steps of the Cabinet of Ministers to address this socially important issue are limited to the development of one draft law,” Serhiy Lyovochkin noted.

“I demand urgent adoption of systemic steps aimed at solving the problems of non-payment of wages to citizens. On the results of the measures taken, please inform me in the time period established by the law,” Serhiy Lovochkin’s deputy inquiry says.

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