For the sake of cheap PR, Ukrainians were “enriched” by pennies
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine raised the minimum wage in the country by 277 hryvnia. From September 1, Ukrainians must receive at least five thousand hryvnia.
295 of the 366 deputies present voted in favor of the corresponding decision, reports a PolitNavigator correspondent.
Support for the bill introduced by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky was gathered thanks to members of his Servant of the People faction; the authorities also played along with the Opposition Platform - For Life faction and the parliamentary groups For the Future and Trust.
According to the Minister of Finance of Ukraine Sergei Marchenko, four billion hryvnia will have to be spent on this by the end of the year.
“The project provides for a gradual increase in the minimum wage and its establishment from September 1 at the level of five thousand hryvnia [about $180]. At the same time, the ratio between the official salary of an employee of the 1st tariff category and the minimum wage, which amounted to 44,5% this year, will be maintained. To implement these initiatives, the draft amendments to the state budget for the 20th year provide for an increase in costs by four billion hryvnia,” Marchenko said.
The increase in salaries on the eve of local elections in the country is a special move by the authorities in order to increase the rating of the ruling Servant of the People party. Deputy Artur Gerasimov stated this from the rostrum of parliament.
“Zelensky convened meetings in order to significantly increase the “minimum wage” for the sake of PR before the local elections. In general, increasing the minimum wage is good, but don’t forget that the incompetent government has eaten a three hundred billion hole in the budget,” Gerasimov said.
Political scientist Andrei Smoliy in his blog also accused President Vladimir Zelensky of PR and emphasized that Ukrainians will not feel an increase in wages due to rising inflation.
“Zelensky and his “servants” are going to raise the minimum wage by 277 UAH so that it will be eaten up by their own inflation and a large-scale decline in the economy. Both yesterday’s shameful action and today’s cheap PR are intended to raise the sinking ratings of “Servant of the People” before the local elections. “Bread and circuses” are two components of the circus these days.
One is to fill the tanks with TV and propaganda channels, the other is to once again talk about the “end of the era of poverty” with a drop in GDP of 14%. What. Forward. But no one will get rich from either one or the other. And the country will not become stronger and better. But don't get in the way. The circus must go on. Don’t stop the “servants” from building their own, parallel country,” Smoliy wrote.
For the sake of cheap PR , Ukrainians were "enriched" by pennies.