Officials and experts about the pension reform:The adoption of amendments will prevent any pre-election speculations on the issue of pension payments

Representatives of the key ministries of the Government's economic bloc as well as experts and advisers to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine backed the draft pension reform which was included in a package of bills and touched upon at the Government ‘s session and at the meeting of the National Council of Reforms under the President of Ukraine and called on the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, where the draft reform is being discussed now, to adopt changes and to deprive populists of the possibility of manipulation and speculation on the topic of pensions. This statement was issued during a joint press conference by First Deputy Minister of Finance of Ukraine Oksana Markarova, First Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine Maxim Nefyodov, Executive Director of the Office of Reforms of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Anton Yashchenko, Deputy Head of the Strategic Group of Advisers under the Cabinet of Ministers Pavlo Kukhta, Executive Director Center for Economic Strategy, member of the Reanimation Reform Package Hlib Vyshlinsky and Head of the Center for political studies and analysis  "Eidos" Viktor Taran.

«The pension reform involves two important sectors: the system of public finances and the issue of restoring justice to our citizens. We have managed to achieve a macroeconomic stabilization and an economic upturn. In order to accelerate this growth and to bring a tangible effect to citizens we need to be engaged in all directions», stressed Oksana Markarova.

This thesis was supported by the First Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine. According to him, the pension system is one of the sources of so-called long-term investments in the economy of any country. «Now we ventured upon a new step. We develop a solid base and we have found a mechanism that will allow to modernize pensions and it will be be the best response to all populists», emphasized Maxim Nefyodov, adding that from an economic point of view raising pensions is not only a renewal of social justice but also a revival of domestic demand.

 Apart from that, the First Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine stressed that the reform is not being carried out by a small group of people. «We appeal to everyone with a request to understand the reform, to believe in the economic indicators that we have been working on for a long time. We urge MPs to support the said reform and to move on. We cannot wait for the next electoral cycle, our citizens need and deserve a decent life today», urged Maxim Nefyodov.

According to the Executive Director of the Office of Reforms of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Anton Yashchenko, any deferment of action on the draft pension reform will again put retirees in dependence on elections and politicians. "The Government’s draft law enable us to lay the foundation for future changes, to introduce the possibility of creation of a stocker pension system and to raise retirement payments already from October 1.

 This statement was supported by the Executive Director of the Center for Economic Strategy, member of the Reanimation Reform Package Hlib Vyshlinsky. He is assured that the pension system is unstable and it carries great risks, at the same time citizens will not be able to ensure decent life when they retire. «The draft pension reform offers an opportunity to upgrade pensions for the oldest retirees who cannot work and are the poorest in Ukraine. The reform aimed to ensure a system stability, a deficit-free and a fairness», underscored Hlib Vyshlinsky.