Trade unions have proposed to increase the amount of unemployment benefits to the average wage

Deputy of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia David Krishtal sent a letter to the Russian Trilateral Commission for the Regulation of Social and Labor Relations, Izvestia reports. If the FNPR (FITU) initiative is supported, the unemployed will be able to receive from 12 to 51 thousand rubles on average in the country. The Ministry of Labor recalled that the allowance should not replace wages.

Let us recall that today the unemployment benefit is 4.5-12.1 thousand rubles. The minimum value established before the pandemic was one and a half thousand rubles. The living wage for the first quarter of this year is 10.8 thousand rubles, and the average salary in the country in May is 50.8 thousand rubles.

The Ministry of Labor promised to study the proposals of the trade unions. But the department pointed out that the allowance is only a temporary measure of support.

- Unemployment benefits are not designed as a permanent replacement for earned income. This is a support measure that allows a citizen to provide a minimum income while looking for work, the ministry said.

Note that despite the lifting of quarantine measures, the unemployment rate continues to grow in Russia. In June, its level increased to 6.3%, while in May it was recorded at 6.1%.

In the second quarter of 2020, real disposable income of the population fell by 8%. The drop in income could be even more noticeable if it were not for the measures of support of the population by the state, which, according to the Central Bank, accounted for up to 6% of the incomes of Russians received in three months.

Note that, according to a survey by the Rabota.ru service, 65% of Russians would like , in addition to their main job, to get an additional job in order to increase their income.