Over 25% of population live below poverty line – Ombudsperson

The monitoring results show that more than a quarter of the total population of Ukraine is below the poverty line.

That's according to Verkhovna Rada Ombudsperson Liudmyla Denisova who spoke at UN Human Rights Council's Social Forum, annually held in Geneva, her press service reports.

Denisova has said the monthly subsistence minimum amounts to about $75, while the minimum wage stands at $176.

"Despite the increase in the level of wages, there is such a phenomenon in Ukraine as poverty among workers. Experts, every third worker's wage doesn't cover their essential needs, while every second able-bodied worker on conditions of a second job," the Ombudsperson said.

Wage arrears in Ukraine increased by 24%, to an equivalent of $200 million, the official noted.

Also, Denisova stressed the invariably high level of poverty among retirees.

About 80% of Ukrainian pensioners receive a pension that's below or at the level of the monetary poverty line.

Read alsoZelensky signs law on consumer lending"Due to the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine, more than 1.5 million Ukrainian citizens were forced to flee from homes to save their lives. The issue of their housing requires particular attention," the Ombudsperson noted.

According to Denisova, the issue of poverty has intensified in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, amid higher unemployment, lack of adequate social security for persons with disabilities and other vulnerable strata, and limited access to online education for most children from low-income families.

Minimum wage in Ukraine

• The Verkhovna Rada on August 25 raised the minimum wage to UAH 5,000 from September 1.
• In July, wage arrears across Ukraine increased by 8.1%.
• As of August 1, wage arrears to employees at active enterprises were up 12.2%, to UAH 2.18 billion.

Pensions

• The minimum pension in Ukraine from September 1, 2020, increased by UAH 110.8, to UAH 2,000 – as a result of an increase in the minimum wage to UAH 5,000.
• The Cabinet designated March 1 as the date of pension indexation.