Retirement Age to Be Increased for Ukrainian Women

The retirement age for women may be increased in Ukraine very soon. The Government is pushing for a pension reform. Among other things this will raise the retirement age of women from 55 to 60.

[Sergey Tihipko, Deputy Prime Minister]:
"Today we are making an unpopular decision, I admit it, I realize that. I understand that in seven or eight years the effect of this will be felt by all Ukrainians, especially women."

The increase will be gradual: 6 months will be added each year until 2020. The purpose of this and other measures within the framework of pension reform is to reduce the deficit of the pension fund, thereby easing the burden on the national budget.But the opposition argues that such innovation will not help to patch up the 26-billion hole in the Ukraine budget.

[Ivan Zaets, MP from Bloc "Our Ukraine – People's Self-Defense"]:
"Why not start with un-shadowing the economy? Reducing the shadow economy by 10% will cover the budget of the whole pension fund. Why not eliminate inequalities in the payment of taxes between the rich and the poor?"

Opponents of government innovation believe that to replenish the pension fund there is a need to increase the number of jobs and wages. And with the current plan, the unemployment rate will only increase.

[Gregory Kabanchenko, National Forum of Trade Unions of Ukraine]:
"It will have a short-term effect. 200,000 women will not receive a pension on time, but it also means that 200,000 other women will be unemployed."

Some Ukrainian women are happy with the proposed new rules - but some are not.

[Unidentified]:
"I treat it positively, because I'm an economist, financier, and I realize that objectively, at this age, all women work anyway and with the money we make in our country, the work is absolutely necessary."

[Unidentified]:
"Actually, of course, like all women I treat it negatively, because we are used to the fact that at 55 we already can take care of grandchildren. When can we now take care of children and grandchildren? There is no time left."

The document is up for further discussion in the parliament before its adoption. The government hopes that the proposed pension reform will be approved by early spring of next year.

NTD News, Kiev, Ukraine.