UNIAN
Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk urged the Verkhovna Rada to immediately consider and adopt draft laws prepared by the government concerning increase in social standards, restructuring of the public debt, as well as confiscation of assets previously owned by Ukrainian officials from the entourage of former President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych and arrested in the course of investigation of the activities of the previous government.
"We will hold a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers jointly with the president, and at this meeting we intend to prepare and submit several draft laws to the parliament - Yatsenyuk said. – The parliament should consider and support the initiative of the government and the president, I hope the parliamentary coalition will be on our side on the issue of raising social standards. The government came out with a proposal to increase from September 1 salaries, pensions, social benefits and the minimum wage," the prime minister added when speaking at a government meeting.
Regarding the restructuring of public debt, Yatsenyuk noted that Ukraine managed to write off nearly $4 billion in debts after reaching an agreement with the creditors committee.
"Despite difficult negotiations, we managed to agree on the write-down of $4 billion and debt payment extension for four years," Yatsenyuk said.
He also stressed the need to amend the criminal procedure law. Yatsenyuk reminded of $1.5 billion of funds and securities owned by the officials from Yanukovych's entourage that have been arrested for more than a year.
"The existing law and the judicial system do not allow to carry out confiscation of assets. To this end, the government has developed a draft law on introducing a special procedure for confiscation," Yatsenyuk said.
As UNIAN reported earlier, on August 27, Ukraine and the creditors' committee reached an agreement on the restructuring of the public debt, totaling $18 billion. The restructuring involves a complete write-off of $4 billion, deferral of principal payments for four years, as well as the establishment of a single 7.75% interest rate for the bonds.
Yatsenyuk noted that the saved funds can be used to improve social standards. In this regard, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine initiated increase in the minimum wage and pensions in Ukraine from September 1 and submitted the relevant changes to the state budget for further approval by the parliament. The minimum wage will amount to UAH 1,378 from September 1. The minimum pension will amount to UAH 1,074. The current minimum wage in Ukraine is UAH 1,218, according to the law on the state budget.