Yanukovych orders, Azarov, Holubchenko, Hereha to pay wage arrears to public sector employees this year

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has instructed Prime Minister Mykola Azarov to resolve the problem with the payment of wage arrears to employees of budget-sustained institutions in Kyiv by December 30.

"I'm asking you, Mykola Yanovych [Azarov], to resolve this issue in the next few days so that the money can be transferred to the accounts of enterprises no later than [December] 30 and people were able to get them," he said, while opening a meeting of the Council of Regions in Kyiv on Thursday.

Yanukovych said that this issue also has to be resolved in the Ukrainian capital, despite the failure to hold the last meeting of a Kyiv City Council session at which the council planned to make the decision on the distribution of additional funds allocated by the government for public sector wages for November and December.

"Let the people who blocked the adoption of the decision be responsible before their conscience if they have it and before the people," he said.

Yanukovych also warned First Deputy Head of Kyiv City State Administration Anatoliy Holubchenko and Kyiv City Council Secretary Halyna Hereha of their personal responsibility for the timely payment of wages in Kyiv.

"Holubchenko and Hereha bear personal responsibility. You, as they say, have to 'attach legs' to this money so that it can get to the people," he said.