OREANDA-NEWS. March 07, 2012. the President of Ukraine has chaired the enlarged meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine having outlined strategic priority areas of social reforms to be implemented in the country.

In his introductory speech, Mr. President stated that the national economy’s positive dynamics enable to improve social standards. This is primarily due to the country’s modernization policy optimizing financial expenditure and initiating the economy’s de-shadowing.

According to President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych, social reforms’ primary principle will be restoring the fairness and raising the efficiency of social policy.

New social initiatives and gradual implementation of a new social policy is primarily to adjust revenue allocation tools, overcome deep proprietary gap, promote middle class and establish an effective system of people’s protection against social risks.

Thus, primary social reform areas will be:

- complex adjustment of approaches to salaries, taxes and social insurance;

- targeted assistance and social services adequate for the needs of certain person or family;

- encouraging effective employment and creating jobs.

Head of State has also authorized the Government to take a number of urgent actions such as raising the allowance for needy families with children, step-be-step recalculating of retirement benefits, etc.

National socially aimed projects will be implemented out of funds set by amendments to the State Budget for 2012 and in the course of drafting the State Budget for 2013.

In turn, Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov emphasized that today’s primary assignment is to fulfill the assignments set by the President, first of all by means of raising the economy, improving the tax Administration, i.e. reducing the shadow economy, and by modernizing labour productivity in domestic enterprises.

The Prime Minister of Ukraine assured that the Government will solve the issues set by the President under a system-based pattern. All resources still not involved will be included and used to strengthen social policy. Implementation stages, as well as completely transparent and clear project performance indicators, will be established for all of the projects.