Deputy PM: Russian govt yet to make decision on pensions for 2017

MOSCOW, Mar 15 (PRIME) -- The Russian government has not yet decided to extend the freeze of accumulative part of pension savings in 2017, Deputy Prime Minister Olga Golodets told reporters Tuesday.

Earlier on Tuesday, Vedomosti business daily reported quoting government officials as saying that the Finance Ministry offered to extend the measure for 2017, which would allow the government to save about 400 billion rubles in the year.

“Discussion on further development of the pension system exists. As of today, no decision has been made,” Golodets said, adding that further discussion is possible only after a thorough study by the government.

Previously, the government froze the accumulative part of pension savings in 2014 and 2015, and used 6% of citizens’ payments for the accumulative part to pay pensions of current retirees. In December 2015, the measure was prolonged for 2016 in order to gain 342.2 billion rubles for the budget.

(70.1542 rubles – U.S. $1)

End