MPs from the inter-faction union UKROP have registered in the Verkhovna Rada a draft law “On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On Compulsory State Pension Insurance” (registration number 6469).
The legislative initiative of the “Ukrainian Association of Patriots”, as opposed to the discriminatory draft pension reform by the Cabinet of Ministers, will facilitate implementation of constitutional duties of the Ukrainian state concerning guarantees of citizens’ social protection. This was stated by the MP from UKROP Iryna Konstankevych during a press briefing in the Verkhovna Rada on May 25.
According to her, the bill grants the right to retirement pension to women if they have 30-years’ work experience, regardless of age. Thus, the real retirement age for women in Ukraine may start at the age of 52, and not at 60 as it is now, or 65, as according to the initiatives of the Cabinet of Ministers.
“We consider that the Ukrainian woman who gives birth to children and raise them, being vulnerable in social aspect, needs an adequate weakening in pension legislation,” said Iryna Konstankevych.
The MP has noted that the bill also provides restoring adjustment of pensions by 100 percent of growth rate of the average wage in Ukraine, subject to insurance fee, compared to the previous year.
Iryna Konstankevych has emphasized that the “Ukrainian Association of Patriots” is strongly against the increase of the minimum work experience for retirement by 20 years. This governmental initiative aims at concealed increase of the retirement age to 65 years in case of lacking 35-years’ work experience.
“We consider such suggestions to be totally unacceptable and discriminatory, and all government’s “mantra” that the proposed version of pension reform complies with the European experience is a pure manipulation,” said Iryna Konstankevych.
It is to be recalled, this draft law is not the first legislative initiative of UKROP aimed at protecting the interests of women concerning retirement benefits. On November 2, 2016 the MPs from the “Ukrainian Association of Patriots” registered a bill № 5343, which proposes to grant the right to early retirement to women who gave birth and raised three or more children. If it is adopted, women who have many children will have a right to early retirement benefits at the age of 55, if they have at least 20 years of insurance period.
