Constant income growth cuts poverty in Russia thrice since 1990s – Medvedev

(Interfax – MOSCOW. April 12, 2013) Poverty in Russia has shrunk thrice since the 1990s but higher salaries of public sector employees remain a key objective of the government, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said at a meeting of the Labor Ministry board on Friday.

“Compared with the 1990s, the poverty level has reduced thrice. The decline is directly related to the labor market situation and the constant growth of incomes,” Medvedev said.

He added that growth of salaries in the public sector remained a key task of the Labor Ministry.

The country has adopted a program of phased improvement of the pay system at state municipal organizations before 2018 and relevant roadmaps, he said.

“We have to complete the preparations, including adjustment of regulations on work quality-based remuneration and new regulations on remuneration of organization heads,” Medvedev stressed.

The prime minister ordered the Labor Ministry to give methodological guidelines for the elaboration of sectoral performance standards and effective contracts. “Regional normative documents must be adopted shortly, as well,” he stressed.