Government will in no case raise retirement age - Groysman

"We will establish fair, absolutely transparent and identical conditions for retirement. We are eliminating the Pension Fund's deficit in order to provide resources for the further growth of pensions," he wrote on his Facebook page. 

Groysman noted that the goal of reform was also the restoration of social justice for the elderly, as well as the opportunity to provide a decent old age for the current young people.

He recalled that a pension reform bill had been supported at first reading by 282 people's deputies, representatives of the majority of parliamentary groups and factions, as well as some independent lawmakers.

"I am very grateful to all who supported our bill, because only together we will be able to restore justice to millions of our pensioners. Then I promised to finalize the reform along with all concerned parties. And we are ready for any constructive proposals," Groysman said.

But, he added, the government has several basic principles that will not be waived under any circumstances. "The reform will be carried out without raising the retirement age. Pensions for nine million pensioners have to be increased from October, and the unfair pension tax for working retirees should be lifted. In the future, pension payments will be transferred automatically," he said.

op