State Duma passes pension bill in 2nd reading

MOSCOW, Sep 26 (PRIME) -- The State Duma, Russian parliament’s lower house, has approved the second reading of a bill raising the retirement age and reforming the pension system, including the amendments made by President Vladimir Putin, on Wednesday.

In August, Putin suggested softening the pension reform by cutting the retirement age for women to 60 years from 63 proposed by the government and keeping it at 65 for men. He also proposed a 200,000 ruble fine or up to 360 hours of obligatory works for employers who deny employment or dismiss pre-pensioners groundlessly.

To become a law, the bill must be further approved in one more reading by the State Duma and in one reading by the Federation Council, the parliament’s upper house, before being signed by the president.

(65.8244 rubles – U.S. $1)

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