OREANDA-NEWS. May 21, 2013. "The Government tightly controls the timely payment of salaries and settle of arrears of previous periods. People have to get the earned money in time. And those leaders who do not respect people will have matter with law enforcement bodies. People must be protected," Vice Prime Minister Oleksandr Vilkul said during the meeting.

He expressed dissatisfaction with the slow reduction of debt. "It must be applied stricter sanctions to the heads of enterprises-debtors, including terminate contracts and bring such heads to administrative and criminal responsibility," Mr. Vilkul said.

"For three years from March 2010 to May 2013 wage arrears decreased by 40% - from UAH 1 billion 737 million to UAH 1 billion 043 million. Compared with the beginning of April the debt decreased by UAH 35 million and as of 13 May, 2013 it is UAH 1 billion 43.4 million," Oleksandr Vilkul said.

As of May 1, 2013 there are not wage arrears in the public sector.

Wage arrears at economically active enterprises of Ukraine on April 1, 2013 decreased by 33.2 million UAH or 5.6%.

Wage arrears at enterprises that are under bankruptcy decreased from early April to UAH 1.1 million or 0.3%.

In economically inactive enterprises that suspended their production and economic activity in previous years, wage arrears from the beginning of April 2013 decreased by UAH 0.8 million or 1.4%.

From April 1, 2013 wage arrears at enterprises that are subordinated to central authorities declined to UAH 25.6 million or 5.4%.