05 March 2004 15:13
New Russian premier wants to stop blanket subsidies in social sphere
Moscow, 5 March: The Russian prime minister, Mikhail Fradkov, believes it is necessary "to move away from
nontargeted subsidies and government grants in the social sphere". He said this addressing the State Duma
today.
"Only those who really need help from the state should be getting it," he stressed. This is "what is
called the principle of social justice", he said.
Fradkov said the rate of the single social tax should be reduced in the very near future. Only this way the problem
whereby a large proportion of people's wages does end up in the "shadow" economy can be resolved.
Despite the fact that "there has been some progress in the implementation of the tax reform and the tax burden
is being reduced, we should strive to achieve our basic aim in this sphere and create an incentive for companies and
citizens to fully reveal and disclose their incomes," Fradkov said.
[ITAR-TASS news agency] |
RUSSIA IN FACTS
