The poverty level in Ukraine remains one of the highest among European countries, raising serious concerns for both the government and society. This was stated by Deputy Minister of Social Policy Daria Marchak, emphasizing that the fight against poverty is one of the Ministry of Social Policy’s top priorities.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Over 8.8 Million Ukrainians Live Below the Poverty Line
The World Bank’s new approach to calculating the population living below the poverty line has allowed journalists to determine that approximately 8.8 million people in Ukraine currently live in difficult material conditions. In response, Marchak stressed that the poverty level in Ukraine significantly exceeds the corresponding figures in the countries that the state aims to emulate.
“This issue is very complex, it is multi-layered, but it is clear that the poverty level in our country is one that is difficult to accept. And it is evident that it significantly exceeds the indicators in other countries that we would like to compare ourselves to,” the official noted.
Marchak also reported that to effectively combat poverty, it is necessary to review existing state support programs. In particular, the current assistance program for low-income families covers only 180,000 to 190,000 families, which is insufficient given the scale of the problem. She emphasized the need to expand assistance and improve the mechanisms for its provision.
The Need for Changes in the Support Program and Minimum Living Wage
In addition to financial assistance, the Ministry of Social Policy aims to develop comprehensive measures to help families escape poverty. Among these measures are promoting employment, retraining programs, and support for relocation to regions with better job opportunities. However, such tools are not always suitable for pensioners, so a separate approach is needed for this category of citizens.
Daria Marchak pointed out the necessity of reviewing the minimum living wage, as the legally established amounts significantly differ from the actual needs of citizens. She emphasized that the actual level of the minimum living wage should be at least twice as high as the current legally fixed figure.
According to the assessment by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the situation in Ukraine is complicated by security risks, a labor shortage, and energy resource deficits, as well as high population migration, unemployment, and poverty. The OECD believes that deep changes in state policy are needed for Ukraine’s recovery, and the private sector must become the driver of economic growth and the country’s reconstruction.