OREANDA-NEWS. February 22, 2013. Securing of social justice is the responsibility of power and content of the policies of the current government. This was started by Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers.

The Head of Government noted that today Ukraine for the second time marks the Day of Social Justice, which is established by a Presidential Decree of 4 November 2011.

“The issue of social justice for state is the key aspect,” Mykola Azarov said. At the same time he noted, unfortunately, social justice is not present in all areas of our lives. It generates social tension. “But it is the responsibility of power and content of our policies step by step establish or restore social justice,” Mykola Azarov said.

The Prime Minister noted that last year, when the President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych proposed large-scale social initiatives that have become a new social policy in Ukraine, he thought just about the way to social justice. The content of social initiatives is the eliminating distortions, injustice and egalitarianism. That is, targeting and strengthening social protection for those who need it.

So the restoration of social justice was practically the first step of the Government’s activity in April 2010.

“We have increased the cost of living, minimum wage, pension and all kinds of social benefits, etc., which have been frozen for two years. And we paid everything owed to people by previous Government,” Mykola Azarov stressed. He added that already from May a pensioner who had a minimum pension began to receive by UAH 133 more than before. During 2010 the basic social standards increased by UAH 245 per month.

“The new social policy, initiated by the President of Ukraine, has strengthened the ideology of social justice,” PM said.

Mykola Azarov said that, to ensure social justice it has been began gradually modernizing pensions in line with the increase of average wages. New higher rate started to use for recalculation of pensions, which has led to radical changes in the structure of pension benefits.

As of January 1, 2010 7 million retirees received pension in the amount of UAH 800. In general, two of thirds of retirees (about 10 million) received a pension of less than a thousand. And from January 1, 2013 already four of fifths of retirees (11 million people) receive a pension of more than one thousand.

“In general, for the first time in 2012 state aid to all pensioners and disabled people was established at the subsistence level. Thus, we have introduced a basic norm of social justice. This is definitely not enough. But we year by year should and will increase social protection,” Mykola Azarov said.