Page 24 - UKRRptOct18

4.4.2 Nominal wages dynamics
Ukraine’s government will raise the minimum wage to about UAH4,200 a month ($149) in 2019 , Ukrainian President Poroshenko announced during his visit to Vinnytsia on September 8, the Interfax-Ukraine agency reported. The decision will be adopted in the 2019 budget, he said, reminding the public that the minimum wage was raised to UAH3,200 in 2017 from UAH1,600. Starting January 1 2018, the minimum wage was UAH3,723. “We are doing it not [because of] elections, we are doing it not to be the country of low-cost labor," Poroshenko said. "We have other competitive advantages. Ukrainians have the right to receive decent salaries." Meanwhile, the current growth in average wages - supported by boosted productivity - will reduce the current labor migration, he said, particularly if average wages reach UAH12,000-15,000. Recall, the current average wage in Ukraine is about UAH9,170 per month.
24 UKRAINE Country Report October 2018 www.intellinews.com