The authorities have agreed on the indexation of social benefits. The minimum wage (SMIC), the cost of living (PM) and insurance pensions should increase by 10%, Vedomosti writes, citing sources. However, the final decision will be made by the president, since during the discussion about the level of indexation there were different opinions, one of the sources of the publication specified.
The discussion on increasing the size of social payments has been going on for more than two months. On March 16, the president held a meeting on measures of socio-economic support for the regions with the heads of the regions and members of the government. As a result, the Cabinet of Ministers was instructed to submit proposals for an additional increase in the size of pensions, including for military pensioners, social benefits, wages for employees of state and municipal institutions, as well as the minimum wage and the living wage. “In the near future we will make a decision to increase all social payments <…>. I emphasize: even in the current difficult situation, we need to achieve a reduction in the level of poverty and inequality at the end of the year, ”the president promised then.
The minimum wage for 2022 is set at the level of 13,890 rubles, the amount of the PM is 12,654 rubles. in general in Russia. In January, Minister of Labor and Social Protection Anton Kotyakov estimated the average pension after indexation this year at 18,984 rubles. On May 19, Maxim Oreshkin, assistant to the president for economics, said that the president would make a decision on indexing social benefits at a meeting of the State Council for Social Policy. It is scheduled for May 25th.
One of the main reasons for the decision on unscheduled indexation of social support is the acceleration of inflation against the backdrop of anti-Russian sanctions and the resulting logistical restrictions.
To decide on indexation, the authorities had to wait for the stabilization of the situation in the economy, said Yaroslav Nilov, chairman of the State Duma Committee on Labor, Social Policy and Veterans Affairs. At the end of February, inflation rose sharply, the market began to feverish – prices soared, then fell, he recalled. As soon as it became possible to more accurately predict inflation, the authorities calculated the indexation, the deputy concluded.