Photo from UNIAN, by Volodymyr Hontar
Ukrainian Health Minister Maksym Stepanov considers it necessary to adopt a law that pegs healthcare workers' minimum salary to the living wage.
Read alsoStepanov calls on lawmakers to ensure healthcare workers' pay riseHe made the comment at a briefing on December 16, as reported by an UNIAN correspondent.
"Last week, I forwarded the bill, which was drafted by the Health Ministry, to my colleagues from the government for signature. The document sets the minimum salary [for healthcare workers] that is pegged to the living wage," he said.
"I believe and insist that such provisions should be stipulated in our legislation ... Therefore, we believe that such a bill should be signed into law. We should fix the minimum salary to be paid to our doctors," he added.
The minister hopes that Ukrainian lawmakers will back the relevant draft.
National budget 2021: Background
- At a meeting on November 26, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the draft national budget for 2021. The document provides for revenue at UAH 1.092 trillion (US$39.3 billion), while spending is set at UAH 1.328 trillion (US$47.8 billion). The deficit is expected to be 5.5% of GDP next year.
- At the same time, the Finance Ministry announced it had successfully finalized discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on benchmarks of the national budget draft for 2021, which was one of major prerequisites for starting the first review of the IMF Stand-by Arrangement for Ukraine.
- On December 15, 2020, the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, passed a draft law on the 2021 national budget.
- On the same day, the parliament backed the resolution on the Verkhovna Rada's estimate for 2021.
- Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko says the 2021 national budget provides for 26% and 30% increases in salaries of educators and healthcare workers, respectively.