OREANDA-NEWS. July 23, 2012. The real income of Ukrainians in the first quarter of this year grew by 10.6% as against 7.8% in 2011.

This was stated by vice Prime Minister - Minister of Social Policy Sergiy Tigipko during a board of the Ministry of Social Policy, where the work of the Ministry for the six months of this year was summarized. "We have significantly improved social standards for the population in the first half of this year. Thus, the cost of living rose by an average of 9.5%, the minimum wage - nearly 10%, and the minimum retirement pension - 5.5%" - Sergiy Tigipko said. He also noted that prices for the same period increased by 0.1%.

In addition, according to vice Prime Minister, the average salary for January-May of 2012 increased by 9.4% and now it is 2880 UAH.

Vice Prime Minister reminded that since March the Ministry of Social Policy is implementing 13 social initiatives of the President, in the framework of which increased pensions for 12.9 million retirees, payments to military retirees, to disabled veterans and families of deceased disabled veterans, miners, and persons with disabilities suffered from Chornobyl disaster.

In addition, on January 1, April 1 and July 1, there was an increase of social benefits, allowances and pension increases for various categories of the population. Mr. Tigipko assured that all social welfare payments will be funded at one hundred percent.

"Now we do not have any problems with the financing of social services. We have reserves that allow us to ensure all social payments" - Sergiy Tigipko said.