DONETSK, December 1. /TASS/. The self-proclaimed Donetsk’s People’s Republic has launched the payment of pensions, Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Policy Sergey Timofeyev said on Monday.
The payment of pensions coincided with the Ukrainian authorities’ statement saying they stop all budget allocations to uncontrollable east Ukrainian areas from December 1, Timofeyev told TASS. “In order to receive the payment, a pensioner should make a corresponding application to the nearest branch of the National Bank. But payments will be made to the pensioners who did not re-register to be paid in the Ukrainian territory,” he said.
The Kiev authorities said the term had expired for evacuating all Ukrainian institutions from Donbass. Thus, pensions and wages are pledged to be paid to workers who are registered as displaced persons, Timofeyev said.
The employment situation in east Ukraine remains extremely difficult. “Unemployment is rather high. But I can’t specify its exact level because there are many facts of hidden unemployment when a person is listed as working at an enterprise, but for many months he is on unpaid indefinite leave,” he said.
“Now the main thing for us is to save people’s lives in the winter. For this purpose, we’re organizing several food services areas, heating and cleaning units, as well as free medical aid stations,” Timofeyev said.