OREANDA-NEWS. May 12, 2011. The Government has adopted a very important decision for 3.5 million Ukrainian citizens working in the public sector. The Cabinet of Ministers makes the first substantial increase of salary of budget employees since the economic crisis. Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine - Social Policy Minister Serhiy Tihipko said at the briefing after the session of the Cabinet of Ministers.

In accordance with the decree "On improving the salaries of budget employees” passed by the Cabinet of Ministers from 1 July to the end of this year salary of the employee of the first category increased from 635 to 704 UAH.

"This decision will allow us to increase salary of budget employees to 12.6% by the end of the year”, - Serhiy Tihipko said.

The official also noted the importance of reducing the gap between minimum wage and rate of the first tariff category. In addition, the Cabinet's decree establishes a differentiation of wages between the first and seventh tariff categories. It will be 5 UAH between the first and second- categories and 10 UAH - between categories from the second to seventh.

"By this decision we begin to restore fairness in the system of labour costs. The qualified candidate should receive more than the inefficient"- Serhiy Tihipko said.

According to preliminary estimates made by the Government, the adoption of the decree will increase salary of the teacher for 197 UAH, surgeon - 191 UAH, assistant professor of higher education institution - for 270 UAH.