The PMR Ministry of Social Protection and Labor: Results of Work for 2024

The Ministry of Social Protection and Labor reported on the results of work for 2024. Chairman of the Government Alexander Rosenberg, the Chairman of the parliamentary Committee on Social Policy and Labor Sergey Cheban, heads of ministries and departments, representatives of social protection organizations and public figures took part in the work of the reporting Board.

The head of the Ministry of Social Protection Elena Kulichenko at the beginning of the report on the results of the department's work noted that 2024 was declared the Year of Family and Family Values ​​in Pridnestrovie.

More than 81 thousand children are being raised in Pridnestrovie today. More than 5 thousand families are large. More than 17 thousand children are being raised in these families. However, the birth rate is disappointing, noted the head of the Ministry of Social Protection. 2279 children were born in the republic last year. This is 309 newborns less than in 2023.

Pension provision

One of the main tasks of the state is to fulfill social obligations. Elena Kulichenko noted that all pensions and benefits were paid on time and in full last year.

The expenses of the Unified State Social Insurance Fund amounted to 2 billion 740 million rubles in 2024. The main share of expenses, 85.6% or almost 2 billion rubles falls on pension provision. Expenses in this area increased by 11% due to the increase in the size of pensions from February 1, 2024. The average old-age pension last year was 1684.7 rubles.

The number of pension recipients was 97144 people as of the end of 2024. Of these, people receive labor pensions, and 4012 receive social pensions.

New provisions of the law "On state pension provision for citizens in the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic" came into force since October last year, according to which pensions are now sent to a bank account. An exception was made for pensioners over 70 years old, disabled people of groups I and II, as well as pensioners living in villages where there are no bank or post office branches. They continue to receive pensions at home. According to data as of the end of 2024, 80825 people receive pensions to a bank account. This is 83.2% of the total number of pension recipients.

Social insurance

The payment of social insurance benefits continued. The total funding amounted to 158 million rubles. The funds were used to pay temporary disability benefits, maternity benefits, childbirth benefits, child care benefits up to 2 years of age and other social payments.

2987 children of insured working citizens spent their holidays in children's health camps last year. 10.4 million rubles were allocated for the purchase of vouchers. 249 vouchers were given free of charge to children from families of PMR defenders, as well as to children from large families.

774 vouchers were purchased for treatment of insured working citizens for a total of about 4 million rubles. 30% of the cost of the voucher was paid by the citizens themselves.

Maternity benefits

The state is trying to stimulate the birth rate today. Maternity benefits, one-time benefits for women who registered early in pregnancy, benefits for the birth of the first, second and subsequent children, and child care benefits up to 2 years have increased by 10% since February 1, 2024. At the same time, work to increase the amount of maternity and childhood benefits must be continued, taking into consideration the unfavorable dynamics of the birth rate, noted Elena Kulichenko.

Social protection of the population

Some changes were made to the legislation in order to provide social and material support to citizens despite the economic difficulties in 2024. In particular, disabled children, as well as children and families in which one of the parents is a disabled person of group I or II, were exempted from paying for meals in educational organizations. A rule came into force allowing disabled women of the third group to receive free breast prostheses and bras for their fastening for medical reasons in 2024.

The preferential lending programs for disabled defenders of the PMR, disabled Afghan war veterans, family members of deceased participants in military operations to defend the PMR, and others continued to operate.

Social and labor relations

The categories of recipients of state subsidies for the purchase of housing were expanded in 2024. Certified employees of the Investigative Committee of the PMR can take advantage of this measure of state support from July 1, 2024, and from January 1, 2025 – employees of the Prosecutor's Office of the PMR. The corresponding changes were made to the law "On state support for young families in the acquisition of housing". The age of recipients of state subsidies was also increased from 36 to 40 years.

74 certificates were issued to young families and 63 tripartite agreements were concluded last year. 8 million rubles were allocated from the PMR Youth Support Fund. 453 certificates have been issued since the law on state support (subsidies) for young families to purchase housing has been in effect (since 2021).

Employment

13919 people applied to social insurance and social protection centers in search of suitable work last year. 4261 people were registered as job seekers. This is 3.5% less than in 2023. Officially recognized as unemployed 1912 people, which is 13.6% less than a year earlier. The number of employed citizens is growing. 2124 people found work last year. This is almost half of the number of officially registered job seekers.

The head of the Ministry of Social Protection Elena Kulichenko noted that there is a shortage of personnel in Pridnestrovie. 6059 vacant jobs/positions have been declared. Almost 74% of these are blue-collar jobs. The most in-demand professions are driver, cook, seamstress, shoe assembler, fitter, gas and electric welder, electrician. There is a shortage of doctors, nurses, accountants, militia officers and teachers among the specialists.

Guardianship and Trusteeship

1295 orphans and children left without parental care were registered with territorial guardianship and trusteeship departments, as of January 1. Of these, more than 58% are under guardianship. 19 children were sent for adoption.

Amendments were made to the law "On state benefits to citizens with children" to stimulate adoption last year. The amount of the one-time benefit for the adoption of a disabled child, a child over 7 years old and children who are brothers and sisters was increased to 2500 minimum wages, or 26,750 rubles. The amount of such a payment was 2589 rubles previously. The new rules came into force on January 1, 2025.

55 people received the keys to their own houses and apartments as part of the state program for the purchase of housing for orphans in 2024. Another 66 Pridnestrovians were provided with temporary housing: 42 orphans received housing in dormitories and 24 – on commercial rental terms.

There are 1174 people from the category of orphans and children left without parental care on the waiting list for housing as of January 1, 2025.

Elena Kulichenko outlined the main plans of the ministry for 2025 at the end of the report. The timely payment of pensions and benefits and the improvement of legislation in the field of social policy are among them.

Representatives of republican public associations, heads of ministries, and heads of state administrations commented on the work of the Ministry of Social Protection and Labor. The Chairman of the Government of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic made the final comment. Alexander Rosenberg highly appreciated the work done by the department last year. The head of the Government pointed out the need to increase state support for motherhood and childhood in 2025, pay more attention to large families and continue work to stimulate adoption at the same time.