Zelensky to submit bill on raising minimum wage

"Today, the President will submit a bill to the Verkhovna Rada to increase the minimum wage to UAH 5,000 from September 1. This is the first step to improving socio-economic guarantees for the Ukrainian working population. The Verkhovna Rada will consider the relevant amendments to the budget in the near future, so that the minimum wage will total UAH 5,000 from September 1," Deputy Head of the Office of the President Yulia Kovaliv said at a briefing on Thursday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

According to the official, the main source for funding an increase in the minimum wage will be, primarily, savings on the public debt service.

Kovaliv noted that the bill would be considered at an extraordinary parliament sitting in August.

Last week, the government approved a macroeconomic forecast for the next year which provides for a two-stage increase in the minimum wage up to UAH 6,000 and UAH 6,500 in 2021, she reminded.

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