Ukrainian president moves to increase minimum wage, subsistence minimum
President Viktor Yushchenko on February 19 submitted a draft bill to the Verkhovna Rada, proposing to increase the minimum monthly wage to 420 hryvnyas ($83) as of May and to 430 hryvnyas ($85) as of August from the current 400 hryvnyas, Ukrainian media reported. The legislature came to a standstill at its morning sitting on February 20, after opposition deputies demanded that Yushchenko's bill and another one, which imposes limits on utility-tariff hikes, be considered as urgent. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych said on February 19 that the cabinet will consider increases in wages and pensions only after taking into account the economic results of the first quarter of 2007. JM // Copyright (c) 2005. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. RFE/RL
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