Mines of state coalmines will receive UAH 400 million of wage arrears thanks to the reduction of expenses for restructuring of the coal and peat production industry foreseen in the national budget.

Draft law No. 2376 on amendments to the national budget was passed by parliament on Tuesday with 269 supporting votes.

"This will allow covering the wage arrears to miners in full," Head of the profile parliamentary committee Mykola Martynenko said.

Energy and Coal Industry Minister Volodymyr Demchyshyn said that in November-December around UAH 650 million of wages arrears to miners accumulated, and UAH 200 million was paid using budget funds, and it was planned to pay another UAH 450 million using revenue of state coalmines. However, he said that in January-February 2015 coalmines were idle, as Vuhlehirska thermal power plant located in the hostilities area was idle and there were no commercial agreements on purchase of coal by DTEK.

"We have to pay the debt from new revenue received in February-April. We fully paid for January and 20% for February. These funds [UAH 400 million] will allow paying all debts," he said.