Poroshenko expects Rada to vote for bills raising pensions, public sector salaries by 13%-18% next week

Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko expects the Verkhovna Rada to consider and adopt bills aimed at improving living standards in Ukraine during the next plenary week.

"In the coming days, I plan to meet with representatives of the coalition factions at their request… Amendments to the budget providing for the growth of social standards should be passed during the next plenary week," he said at an extended meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers in Kyiv on Tuesday.

Poroshenko stressed that pensions and salaries for public sector employees are to be increased by 13%-18%.

"I understand that the increase in social standards by 13%-18%, which will affect 3 million public sector employees, 7.5 million pensioners and 1.5 million people who receive various forms of assistance, won't cover the losses which some suffered last year," Poroshenko said.

At the same time, he said that this decision would not only raise social standards, but would also show the authorities' attitude towards their duties.

Poroshenko added that the first reforms made by the government are already paying off.