A record increase in salary arrears was recorded in Ukraine in 2019, deputy of the party “Opposition platform – For life”, Yuri Pavlenko said.
“In 2019, record wage arrears were accumulated since 2001. As of November 1, 2019, the total debt amounted to 3.43 billion hryvnias ($ 143 million), increasing by 30% since the beginning of the year. The lion’s share of debt is 80%, was accumulated in the industry. Moreover, 68% of this debt falls on economically active enterprises,” Pavlenko said, as quoted by TASS.
At the same time, Pavlenko noted, the country remains at a high level of unemployment, despite some decline. He cited statistics from the International Labor Organization, which notes that for the nine months of 2019, the unemployment rate among the population of Ukraine aged 15 to 70 years amounted to 8.1% compared to 8.6% for the same period in 2018.
“The general level of poverty, low salaries, problems with employment continue to increase the pace of labor migration. According to expert estimates, up to five million Ukrainians, including young people, work abroad today. Thus, together with talented engineers, architects, doctors, teachers and other specialists, the country is losing its future. Youth and social policies, as well as state policy in general, should be aimed at overcoming labor migration, improving working conditions and creating new workers. places, improving the general level of quality of life in Ukraine,” Pavlenko emphasized.