In Ukraine, the poverty level remains significantly higher than in many other countries, and this figure raises serious concerns. According to updated data from the World Bank, over 8.8 million citizens of the country are living below the poverty line.
This is reported by Finway
Key Issues and Ways to Overcome Poverty
Deputy Minister of Social Policy Daria Marchak emphasized that the fight against poverty remains one of the main priorities of the ministry. To effectively address this issue, a comprehensive approach is necessary: improving the efficiency of social programs, providing retraining for the population, and gradually increasing the minimum subsistence level.
“This issue is very complex, it is multifaceted, but it is clear that the poverty level in our country is one that is difficult to accept. And it significantly exceeds the indicators in other countries that we would like to emulate,” says Marchak.
According to her, the existing support programs do not meet modern challenges. For example, only about 180,000 to 190,000 families benefit from the assistance program for low-income individuals, which is insufficient given the actual scale of the problem.
Updating Programs and Reviewing the Minimum Subsistence Level
The Ministry of Social Policy emphasizes that the approach to supporting low-income individuals needs to change: assistance should be provided along with services that promote social adaptation, retraining, and reintegration into the labor market. This primarily concerns the working-age population, as similar measures are often impossible for pensioners.
Particular attention should be paid to the amount of the minimum subsistence level. The official stressed that current legislative norms do not reflect the actual expenses of citizens. According to her, the actual minimum subsistence level should be at least twice as high as the officially established one.