Yakutia to raise minimum wage

Last week, the government of Yakutia, the Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic and national employers' associations signed a regional agreement that established the minimum wage in the amount of 8,544 rubles ($267).

The document was signed by Prime Minister of the Yakutian government Galina Danchikova, deputy chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions Valentina Kirillina and the chairman of the Union of Producers Ivan Prostit.

As reported by YASIA news agency, the document touched upon the interests of the population working in the republic and excludes employees of organizations financed from the federal budget.

According to the Minister of Labour and Social Development Nikolai Degtyarev, the minimum wage in Yakutia will be raised gradually. In early 2014, it will be equal to the level of the living wage in the republic.

The official added that the previously established ratio of the minimum wage (6,614 rubles) to the subsistence wage (11,230 rubles) in the republic was 59 percent. With the signing of the Agreement, from September 1 of the current and next year, the ratio will make up 76 percent and 85 percent respectively.

It should be noted that the adequate decree from President of the Republic Egor Borisov about the concept of raising the wages for public workers and the minimum wage in the republic for 2012 - 2017 years was signed in August. Its implementation will require 90 billion rubles, according to preliminary estimates. The funds will be provided by optimizing costs and extrabudgetary sources.