OREANDA-NEWS. March 17, 2009. A decision to cease payment of pensions through certain banks has been approved by the Pension Fund of Ukraine in connection with introducing of temporary administrations in them. Though it doesn’t pose a threat to timely payment of pensions, Minister of Labour and Social Policy Liudmyla Denysova stresses.

“When the NBU informs the Pension Fund of Ukraine about emerging problems in this or that bank, the Pension Fund immediately responds to this fact with informing firstly the pensioners about problem and unreliable banks and suggests to receive pensions through Ukrpost or other banks, that fulfill the assumed liabilities in timely payments,” the Minister explained.

According to her, nowadays the retirement benefits are paid in compliance with the schedule and 61% of beneficiaries have received their pensions. Pensions have been financed in the sum of UAH 8196.7 mn, which amounts 61.8 % of monthly pension assignment. “The Pension Fund has earned 23.4% extra funds, that’s why there are no grounds to suppose this institution has any problems,” the Labour Minister emphasized.

Moreover, she urged the statements of certain politicians concerning incapacity of the Pension Fund to secure pension payments to Ukrainian citizens is a mechanism of protection of authority of separate banks, in possession of the very politicians.

That’s why these statements are not only close to the truth but facilitate spread of panic. As Liudmyla Denysova put it, such actions are inadmissible, especially when all the forces, including the opposition, have to work in synergy to mitigate the fallouts of the financial-economic crisis but not to pursue demagogy.