Head of the DPR Denis Pushilin announced the continuation of the policy of stepwise increase in wages, pensions and social benefits. The leader of the state said this in his annual address to DPR People’s Council deputies, a correspondent of the Official Website of the Donetsk People’s Republic reported today, on December 20.

“We have to live and work in very difficult conditions. And these conditions give rise to problems that cover all spheres of life in our society, primarily the social sphere.

We have a very low level of income of the population. During the whole period of the existence of the Republic, we repeatedly have had the opportunity to raise the amount of pensions and social payments, increase salaries of public sector employees. We have planned another such increase for the beginning of next year. The amount of pensions will have been increased by 20% for every pensioner. Let me remind you that since 2015 we have managed to increase the minimum pension more than twice.

In addition, we have planned to raise social benefits and allowances to various amounts.

Beginning on January 1, 2020, the salaries of public sector employees, including medical workers, teachers and social workers, will have been increased by 26 per cent.

The process of gradual salary increases will continue. In the next few years we will have to reach the level of income the same as in the neighboring regions of the Russian Federation,” Denis Pushilin said.