OREANDA-NEWS.  January 24, 2012. Increasing payments of low-wage categories of citizens was a priority for the Government in 2011. The Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov said this at a press conference in Kyiv.

"Government policy was aimed at raising wages for low categories. The emphasis was on the increase for the 1st tariff category of employers and from 1 to 6 tariff categories to quickly rise a level of wages for workers who were most affected by the crisis"- the Prime Minister said.

Mykola Azarov drew attention that the policy pursued by the Government, despite all the difficulties, allowed to increase the real purchasing power.

"We took a significant change on the structure of wages. Those who receive a salary on the amount 1.5 thousand UAH became at a million people less, for a million people added who receive more than 3 thousand UAH. It's good, "- the Prime Minister said.

He also noted that in December of 2011 year the average salary was 3,054 UAH, compared to 1900 UAH at the beginning of 2010 year.

"In the crisis year actually decreased by 20% of turnover, we had a real drop in profits. In 2010 - 2011 years we proceed to pre-crisis level of purchasing power "- the PM added.

Thus Azarov recognizes that pre-crisis level of purchasing power has not yet been achieved. "We need to spend another year, 2012 year and to go to pre-crisis level" - Prime Minister of Ukraine said.

He said the government also reduced the arrears of wages, which accumulated in 2009. "From our predecessors got outstanding 1 billion 737 million UAH, we have reduced it to 1 billion - due to the great work", - Mykola Azarov said.