STEPASHIN: DEBTS TO BUDGET EMPLOYEES ARE DOWN TO 8 BILLION
ORT (Russian Public Television), News program, July 7, 1999, 09:00
The All-Russian Conference on the problems of reorganization of the social sphere and the perfection of labor protection has opened in Moscow. Addressing its delegates, Premier Sergei Stepashin announced that the government has reduced debts to budget employees from 15 billion to 8 billion.
The Cabinet has so far been able to keep its promises with regard to making money available to paying pensions and salaries to budget sphere employees on time.
PENSIONERS ARE OWED 12 BILLION RUBLES
ORT (Russian Public Television), News program, July 7, 1999, 15:00
Premier Sergei Stepashin chaired two recent government sittings on reforms in the social sphere and restructuring the coal mining industry.
Specifically, Stepashin promised to pay all debts to pensioners by September. By July 1, total pension debts had decreased by 18 billion and amounted to 12 billion.
Talking about social policy in general, the premier announced that acting labor legislation is outmoded.
Sergei Stepashin: The new Labor Code should bring labor guarantees in line with the financial capacities of the state and employers. Amendments to the law “On Employment” which have been adopted by the Federal Assembly specify a new procedure of establishing unemployment benefits and reduce social parasitism.
PREMIER STEPASHIN CHAIRS A CONFERENCE ON RESTRUCTURING THE COAL MINING INDUSTRY
ORT (Russian Public Television), News program, July 7, 1999, 15:00
Sergei Stepashin: We are particularly worried about the attempts of certain politicians to play the miners card in the parliamentary election year (we have operational data from the city of Rostov, specifically). The problem is, these attempts may result in unpredictable consequences in the economic and political life of the country.
The restructuring the industry will be executed under the control of trade unions, according to Stepashin.
Before the end of the year, $250 million from the World Bank are supposed to become available for the restructuring.
