Ministry of Social Protection and Labor – results of 2023

A rural outpatient clinic is being reconstructed in Dubossary district, in the village of Doybany, the building of which will later house a complex for single elderly citizens. Construction work is being carried out at the expense of the Capital Investment Fund. 2.5 million rubles were disbursed last year. 5.8 million rubles have been allocated this year. The information was announced at the reporting board of the Ministry of Social Protection and Labor of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic. Chairman of the Supreme Council Alexander Korshunov was interested in the number of functioning homes for the elderly in the republic and the prospects for the development of this infrastructure. As Minister Elena Kulichenko noted, there are 2 neuropsychiatric boarding schools in the republic, where people with disabilities are located, and a veterans' home in Pervomaisk. There are 868 people in these institutions. The appearance of a specialized complex in Doybany will solve the issue with the existing order. It is planned in addition to build a building for 100 people on the territory of the psychoneurological boarding school in Tiraspol. Funds have been allocated for these purposes under the Capital Investment Fund, Elena Kulichenko noted.

Speaking about the prospects for social services for the population, the Minister said that on behalf of the PMR President, the possibility of opening another social facility on the basis of a former school in the village of Sukleya in Slobodzeya district is being studied. The building will house a Republican mixed-type center for adult citizens with special life needs. It is planned to complete the design work on this facility this year.

The Minister for Social Protection and Labor spoke about the implementation of the state program for the purchase of housing for orphans and children left without parental care as part of last year's report. The State has acquired 48 residential premises (apartments and residential buildings) for orphans. As for the solution of the housing issue of young families, 90 certificates were issued for obtaining state subsidies for the purchase of their own square meters in 2023. Expenses under the state program amounted to 6.7 million rubles. 55 young families settled in their homes, according to the results of 2023.

Elena Kulichenko focused on pension provision and social benefits. The obligations to pay pensions, allowances and compensations have been fulfilled in full in 2023. The main share of expenses falls on pension provision and amounts to 1.88 billion rubles. Over 96 thousand people totally receive labor or social pension.

The minimum age pension was increased by 5% from February 1, 2023, and maternity and childhood benefits by 10%. The amount of payments has been increased since February 1, 2024.

It was noted at the reporting board, that in 2023, despite the difficulties in the economy, in order to provide social material support to Pridnestrovian citizens, amendments were made to the legislation that provide additional benefits:

– on an equal basis with an unemployed able-bodied parent (guardian, trustee) caring for a disabled child, the right to receive a monthly compensation payment in the amount of 100 rubles of the minimum wage is granted to an unemployed able-bodied parent (guardian, trustee), spouse, other close relatives who have been caring for a disabled person since childhood of group I or II;

– disabled people of the I group of general illness, occupational disease, labor injury, illness received during military service, disabled people from childhood of the I group, disabled children under the age of 18 for medical reasons can receive special care products free of charge once every 3 years (anti-bedsore mattresses and pillows, chairs with sanitary equipment) and a monthly cash payment for the purchase of special care products (diapers, disposable diapers, urinals, colostomy bags);

– visually impaired people of groups I, II, disabled people of groups I, II of general illness, labor injury, occupational disease, disease received during military service, disabled people from childhood of groups I, II, a disabled child under the age of 18 1 time in 2 years can receive compensation for an independently acquired eye prosthesis in the amount of its cost, but not more than 360 rubles per 1 eye prosthesis;

– war invalids have been granted the right to extraordinary free manufacture and repair of dentures, including those made of metal ceramics, once every 5 years in polyclinics;

– participants in military operations to protect the PMR and persons who became war invalids as a result of injury, contusion, mutilation or disease received during the protection of the PMR, after death, are guaranteed the right to manufacture and install tombstones in public cemeteries of the PMR.

Speaking of employment, 4416 people were registered as job seekers in 2023, which is 4.3% less than in 2022 (4615 people). 6.4 million rubles were spent on financial support for unemployed citizens.

Working professions were considered the most in demand in the labor market at the end of last year: asphalt concrete worker, concrete worker, driver, cook, seamstress, shoe top collector, teacher's assistant, locksmith of various qualifications, sprinkler operator, tractor driver, electric gas welder, bricklayer, plasterer-painter, electrician, roofer, excavator driver, electrician, etc. The most in demand among the specialists are doctors of various specializations, a nurse, an accountant, an educator, an engineer, a teacher–psychologist, a teacher of various disciplines, etc.

The Social Insurance and Social Protection Centers to assist in finding employment sent 59 people for course vocational training, retraining, and advanced training.

The Government Chairman Alexander Rosenberg proposed to strengthen the work on the employment of people with special needs, according to available vacancies where possible. They discussed further work on automating the appointment of pensions and simplifying the procedure for collecting the necessary documents by citizens of pre-retirement age. They talked about the possibility of simplifying the procedure for adopting children and developing measures to motivate citizens to adopt as part of the Year of Family Values.