With the kind permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, InfoUkes Inc. has been given rights to electronically re-print these articles on our web site. Visit the RFE/RL Ukrainian Service page for more information. Also visit the RFE/RL home page for news stories on other Eastern European and FSU countries.

UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT MOVES TO INCREASE MINIMUM WAGE, SUBSISTENCE MINIMUM. President Viktor Yushchenko on February 19 submitted a draft bill to the Verkhovna Rada, proposing to increase the minimum monthly wage to 420 hryvnyas ($83) as of May and to 430 hryvnyas ($85) as of August from the current 400 hryvnyas, Ukrainian media reported. The legislature came to a standstill at its morning sitting on February 20, after opposition deputies demanded that Yushchenko's bill and another one, which imposes limits on utility-tariff hikes, be considered as urgent. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych said on February 19 that the cabinet will consider increases in wages and pensions only after taking into account the economic results of the first quarter of 2007. JM