Ministry of labour: the poverty line live in Russia 13% of the population
MOSCOW, December 28. /TASS/. About 13% of the Russian population have incomes below the subsistence level, said in an interview with TV channel “Russia 24″the Minister of labor and social protection of Russia Maxim Topilin.
“It is estimated that exist, the number of citizens who have incomes below the subsistence level, it is maintained at 20 million — is 13-13,5% of the total population of the country,” — said Topilin.
He noted that it is “unpleasant, at least, an indicator”. According to the Minister, this figure is associated with rising prices in the last two years and, as a result, the growth of the subsistence minimum.
Topilin said that the government is already taking the first steps to reduce the number of people with incomes below the subsistence minimum. He reminded that a law, according to which from 1 January 2018, the minimum wage (SMIC) will reach 85% of the subsistence level, and from Jan 2019 — 100%. “For the first time in the history of the Russian Federation we were able to bring the minimum wage to the subsistence level,” — said Topilin.
The Minister added that the growth in real wages of Russians in December 2017 will amount to 3-4% in comparison with December of 2016.
“Maybe in December, I believe, the real wage will remain at the level of 3-4%, will increase and I hope very much that given the December growth for the year will be the growth of real incomes”, — he said.
Topilin noted that wage growth in November 2017 compared to November last year amounted to 5.4%. “If you take 11 months [2017] 11 months [2016] — the whole period, growth will be 3%”, — the Minister added.
Earlier, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said that the growth of real wages in Russia will reach 4.1% in 2018, which is higher than the rate of inflation. The head of the Ministry of Finance said that by the end of 2017, the growth in real wages is 3%.