In the last month of the year, the subsistence minimum and pensions will be increased. There will be a long weekend for Catholic Christmas in Ukraine, but it is possible that you will have to rest longer: the Cabinet of Ministers has already talked about a possible two-week lockdown for the New Year holidays.
What awaits Ukrainians in December, ElitExpert found out.
Dollar rate
Strengthening quarantine and the height of the pandemic may negatively affect the value of the dollar. And the worse the American currency is, the cheaper it is in Ukraine. With or without quarantine, the economic activity of the business will slow down, entrepreneurs will buy less currency for import, and at the same time the demand for it will decrease.
So, experts expect the exchange rate to be around UAH 28,50 per dollar.
The subsistence minimum will be raised
From December 1, the living wage will increase to 2189 hryvnias. Before that, it was 2118 hryvnias (as of July 1, 2020). Thus, the increase will be 71 hryvnias.
Also, from December 1, the subsistence minimum will increase for various social and demographic groups of the population:
- for children under 6 years old — from 1859 to 1921 hryvnias;
- for children from 6 to 18 years old — from 2318 to 2395 hryvnias;
- for able-bodied persons — from 2197 to 2270 hryvnias;
- for persons who have lost their ability to work — from 1712 to 1769 hryvnias.
In turn, this will facilitate the recalculation of pensions and salaries. From the 1st, pensions in Ukraine will increase as follows:
- minimum pension — from 1712 to 1769 hryvnias (by 57 hryvnias);
- the maximum pension is from 17120 to 17690 hryvnias (by 570 hryvnias).
The seniority allowance for pensioners will also increase - a monthly supplement for those who have more than 35 years of experience (men) and 30 years (women). Now it is 1% of the minimum pension for each additional hour and will increase from 17,12 to 17,69 hryvnias.
As for the salaries of state employees: now the minimum tariff salary is UAH 2225. After recalculating the subsistence minimum, it should be increased to at least UAH 2270. Further, depending on the tariff category, which is used, the increase factor. For example, the 10th tariff level is 1,82 salaries, and the last, 25th, is 4,51 salaries. Thus, the salary of public sector workers in the 10th tariff category will be increased from 4049 to 4131.
Gas tariffs will remain the same
In November, the Naftogaz Ukrainy gas supply company set the price of natural gas for household customers in December 2020 at the level of UAH 6,33/cubic meter including VAT and without taking into account the cost of distribution (delivery). The company assures that there is no need to wait for a tariff increase this month.
December Christmas
In December, Ukrainians will have a long weekend for Catholic Christmas. He will be celebrated on Friday, December 25. Since 2017, this day has been considered an official holiday in Ukraine. Saturday and Sunday fall next, so Ukrainians will have a long weekend for Catholic Christmas — December 25, 26, and 27.
But New Year's Eve — Thursday, December 31 — will be a working day. But employers are recommended to reduce the ego for 1 hour.
And quarantine again
However, the weekend may take much longer. The Cabinet of Ministers talked about the introduction of a total quarantine (like in spring) for the New Year holidays. People's deputy of Ukraine Oleksandr Dubinsky even named specific dates: from December 24 to January 15.
Whether it is or not, we can find out in the near future. Last weekend was the last in a series of "weekend quarantines", after which the government will come to one or another decision: either it will continue to do so by half-measures, or it will be closed altogether.
