The pension system is a complex tool for building a country's social policy. The moment has come in Russia when it is necessary to carry out its renewal. For this reason, the pension reform was approved, news about which filled the media.

Pension reform: start in January 2019

An outdated pension system will harm the state interests of Russia. The 2018 retirement age reform begins work in January 2019 and is intended to become an effective tool for the country's leadership for the social protection of citizens of the state.

The project’s goal was not only to raise the retirement age; the reform was designed to adjust the calculation and calculation of pensions. To implement it, the government was required to correlate the assessment of demographic indicators, inflation, statistical indicators of the standard of living and well-being of people with the tasks that this reform will solve in the state. Russians, concerned about the innovation, are closely monitoring the latest news on pension reform.

Old age is postponed

People of any country want to live in a reliable state, the authorities of which guarantee, among other things, a protected old age. Citizens do not like changes in guarantees from the state. Likewise, the reform of the retirement age in Russia is perceived ambiguously by society. Russians want confidence that by the time their pension arrives, the start date will not change and the accrual of pension payments will not be reduced. But now a reform appears to raise the retirement age.

The essence of the project is that the new reform will revise the years of retirement for citizens according to age and increase the retirement age. The project is designed to improve economic and demographic indicators; such actions on the part of the state are a global trend. The project developers explain the urgency and urgency of such a step as pension age reform by the fact that research in this direction was carried out back in 1932. The country's standard of living and life expectancy have increased, and working conditions have improved.

In contrast to the arguments of legislators, people cite the fact that during their work, by transferring their own earned money, Russians hoped for a state-provided old age in the near future. However, the pension age reform since 2019 increases the length of work, which older people are not prepared for.

The funds that the state will receive will bring additional income to the country’s treasury, which the country’s authorities will be able to use to cover the deficit of the pension fund and finance some national projects. The idea of ​​replenishing the federal budget with additional money was the reason why a project to change the pension system was proposed for consideration by the Duma. The 2018 pension reform in Russia is designed to solve another problem voiced by the president - increasing pensions for current pensioners so that the increase exceeds the inflation rate in the country.

The pension reform in 2018 was the result of interaction between the Russian government and the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection. As a result of the adoption of the draft law, the country's leadership made a bold decision. The reaction from citizens to its adoption in the Duma was ambiguous.

The pension age reform in the Ministry of Internal Affairs will not take effect. For employees of this ministry, the government is developing a special document that will increase the retirement age of a certain category of employees. The project guarantees additional benefits to Russians of certain professions and social groups, for example, mothers of many children.

The government is justifying the need to take unpopular measures to solve problems associated with replenishing the pension fund. As a result of the implementation of the reform of raising the retirement age, the state pension fund will receive savings from the federal budget and will be replenished with additional funds by increasing the number of working citizens. In addition, the pension fund will be able to increase pensions for current pensioners by 7.05%, which exceeds the inflation rate in the country.

2018-Aug-Wed The topic of the pension system is very extensive and requires a long study, since “the pension system of a modern civilized society in global practice, by its institutional essence, is an integral indicator of the level of social orientation of the state”[I]. Despite https://site/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/pensii1.jpg , website - Socialist information resource [email protected]

The topic of the pension system is very extensive and requires lengthy study, since “the pension system of a modern civilized society in global practice, in its institutional essence, is an integral indicator of the level of social orientation of the state” .

Despite the general features and some general principles of organization of pension systems, in each country the pension system has its own history and characteristics of its emergence and development.

Until now, most of the statements or publications devoted to the new pension reform and of a more or less detailed nature were limited to purely petty-bourgeois criticism. Criticism from a Marxist point of view, which presupposes an explicit use of class theory, could not boast of a sufficiently detailed consideration of this issue.

Although this article does not claim to be a complete study of the problem, it is intended to complement and strengthen everything that has already been said and to help in further study and Marxist criticism of the new pension reform of the bourgeois government.

// PartI: General position

An introduction to the general context of the issue under consideration is necessary to show that Russia today has become an “ordinary”, “average” state of the bourgeois type, which is in a subordinate position in relation to the general system of imperialism and is subject to general laws. Russian pension “reform” is part of a general attack on workers’ rights for bourgeois countries.

World trends

The total demographic burden in the world (that is, together children under 15 years of age and the elderly over 65 years of age relative to the working age population - 15-64 years old) grew until the mid-1960s, reaching a value of 76 people of non-working age (children and elderly ) per 100 people of working age. Then, starting to decline, the total demographic burden fell to 52 per 100 people in 2013. The increase in the burden was due to an increase in the birth rate and was replaced by a decrease due to its decrease.

Today, the trend is again turning towards an increase in the overall demographic burden due to an increase in the number of elderly (while the burden of children is decreasing). By 2030, the total demographic burden will be 54 per 100, and by 2050 - 58 per 100 and by the end of the century - 66 per 100.

The aging of the population in the economically developed countries of imperialism allows the ruling bourgeoisie of each of these countries to “reform” the relations of labor and capital, i.e. openly attack employees. One of these “reforms” is raising the retirement age.

Raising the retirement age is being implemented gradually with a planning horizon up to the 50-60s. XXI century: “One way to close the gap in the economic replacement rate relative to today's retirees for younger people is to lengthen their productive work history.

For those born between 1990 and 2009 who begin retiring in 2055, raising the retirement age by five years—from the current average of 63 to 68 in 2060—would make up half the gap for today's retirees." Transition to 70 year old retirement age by the mid-2030s. is now being worked out by some capitalist countries.

The protracted global economic crisis is exacerbating the contradictions inherent in imperialism. The policy of budgetary austerity in the countries of the European Union has led to a significant reduction in the social rights of citizens. For example, for 2009-2012. the reduction in social spending in health care was 16% in Ireland and 29% in Greece. Just as in Ireland and Greece, cuts in medical spending in Portugal, Latvia and Spain have led to layoffs and hospital closures. At the same time, the number of paid services.

Job cuts were also carried out in other parts of the public sector, for example in education. The reduction of social rights affected both the pension system and the employment sector. In general, the socio-economic crisis of European countries has shown that “richer countries in Europe are not prepared to share their wealth with poorer ones in times of economic and social difficulties” .

Pension system in modern Russia

There are various approaches and criteria for classifying models of social policy and pension systems in particular. For example, as ideal types of social policy - the “Bismarck model” and the “Beveridge model” - the priority of employee rights or the priority of human rights, respectively. As for pension systems, the following two types are distinguished based on the method of financing:

A. Distribution (solidarity, Pay-As-You-Go) pension system - contributions go to pay current pensions.

B. Accumulative (or financial) pension system - contributions are reserved and then invested in financial instruments.

In most countries, pension systems operate according to a distribution (solidarity) scheme. For example, the distribution system operates in most OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) countries, a mixed one (with elements of both systems) in Australia, Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Great Britain, and the USA.

Many Latin American countries have become disillusioned with the funded model or simply abandoned it. The negative experience of Chile forced this state to abandon a completely funded pension system. Argentina decided to nationalize 10 private pension insurance funds and abandon the funded system. In Bolivia, the state is reclaiming its previously privatized pension system. Uruguay is introducing a mixed pension savings system instead of a funded one.

In contrast to developed countries that use a distribution or mixed pension system, the experience of developing countries that have introduced the compulsory funded principle of organizing a pension system indicates that the mandatory funded component “faces a set of problems that show its ineffectiveness.”

In Soviet Union a distribution pension system was in effect, i.e. “redistribution of economic resources from the working generation in favor of the elderly population who have left the labor force and retired.”

At the final stage of the counter-revolution in the USSR, with the adoption of the RSFSR Law of November 20, 1990 “On State Pensions,” the formation of a modern pension system began, preserving and transferring the distribution principle of organization to new conditions. On December 22, 1990, the Pension Fund of Russia was formed for the state management of pension finances.

When discussing the new pension legislation among deputies, it was said that one of the presented “documents is as if it was written by order of a mafia group, and you couldn’t write anything better for a mafia.”

With the transition to radical economic reforms, a crisis arose in the pension system. In 1992 pensions have depreciated more than 2 times, the average pension has become less subsistence level, a debt crisis of the Pension Fund emerged. Due to the impossibility of regular indexation of pensions, compensations were established.

In 1996, the pension debt crisis became chronic. In 1999-2000 the real amount of the pension was approximately a third of the 1990 level. As for the employed part of the population, wage arrears amounted to 41% of the total wage fund at the beginning of 1997.

For 1990-2000 Several concepts of pension reform were developed: “During this period, two political trends fought: (1) an attempt to preserve, albeit in a modernized form, the distribution pension system and (2) to take more radical steps in favor of creating a fundamentally different pension system of the funded type.”

By the end of 2001 Thanks to the good conditions on the world oil markets, it became possible to bring the average pension closer to the minimum subsistence level of a pensioner. In the same year, the National Council for Pension Reform was formed, and since 2002, Russia entered the “new national pension system”.

If the 1990 Law “On State Pensions in the Russian Federation” generally preserved the distribution type of pension system with the payment of a single old-age pension, then the Federal Law “On Labor Pensions in the Russian Federation” adopted on November 30, 2001 approved a mixed type pension system. Thus, the old-age pension was divided into three parts, two of which made up the distribution system - basic (minimum, guaranteed payment common to all), insurance (conditionally funded) and the third part - funded (within the framework of the funded system), until 2004 for men born 1953-1966 and women born 1957-1966, and after 2004 only for those born in 1967 and younger.

The conditional-savings part forms personalized obligations to the citizen in the amount of funds received into his individual pension account, creating the illusion of a “real personal account”, while the funds are spent on paying current pension obligations according to the distribution principle.

The insurance (conditionally funded) part of the pension was calculated according to the following parameters: “a coefficient taking into account the length of work experience, a coefficient taking into account the ratio of individual wages to the Russian average level, and the size of the country’s average wage for the period preceding the calculation.

However, in specific calculations, a “cunning” figure and an equally “cunning” coefficient were used. The fact is that the average monthly salary in the Russian Federation in 2001 was 3240.4 rubles, while for calculating the pension, the government decree approved its size at 1750 rubles, i.e. 1.85 times less, and the individual coefficient of correlation with the average Russian salary, regardless of its actual value, was limited from above to 1.2. In other words, from the very beginning of the reform, the pension level was reduced by almost half."

In 2007-2013(subsequently extended until 2014), a program of state co-financing of additional pension savings was implemented - with an annual contribution of 2 thousand rubles, the state doubles this amount, but not more than 12 thousand.

December 23, 2013 The Federal Law “On Insurance Pensions” was adopted and the “reform” of the pension system continued with renewed vigor. The basic part of the pension began to be called a fixed payment. A new formula for calculating the insurance (conditionally funded) part of the pension is being established. The formula is distinguished by greater complexity and opacity of the procedure for calculating pensions than the previous one; the calculation itself begins to be made not in rubles, but in “points”.

Since 2014 A one-year moratorium was introduced on the formation of the funded part of the pension (later extended until 2020), all funds that were supposed to be counted towards the funded part of the pension go to the insurance (conditionally funded) part and are spent on current pension payments. By 2019, the funded part of the pension is planned to be replaced by “individual pension capital”, which will be formed voluntarily, i.e. only at the request of a citizen. Since 2016, working pensioners have not been subject to planned indexation of pensions (and are restored in total for all years after dismissal).

The average pension in 2013 reached 165% of the minimum subsistence level of a pensioner; by 2016 it reached 165%. decreased up to 153%

// PartII: New pension reform

June 16, 2018 Bill No. 489161-7 was introduced into the State Duma of the Russian Federation “On amendments to certain legislative acts of the Russian Federation on issues of appointment and payment of pensions”. As stated in the explanatory note to this bill: “it is proposed to fix the generally established retirement age at 65 and 63 years for men and women, respectively.” It is proposed to increase the retirement age “gradually during the transition period from 2019 to 2034.”

Let's consider how feasible the proposed reform is.

I

Conceptually raising the retirement age was still being developed in the 90s. It was assumed that the retirement age would increase starting in 2000 for 4 months a year and will reach 65 years for men and 60 years for women. However, the positive effect of this reform would have exhausted itself already by 2025-2030., which would ultimately lead to the need for a new pension reform and a further increase in the retirement age.

Likewise, the effect of the proposed increase will begin to fade in the second half of the 2030s. and will exhaust itself in the 2050s., i.e. the ratio of employees and pensioners that preceded the increase in the retirement age and which is assessed today by the government as an unconditional basis for changing the retirement age will be practically reproduced.

True, the calculations are correct if the increase occurs more slowly than proposed by the government, i.e. not for 1 year, but for 6 months a year. Accordingly, in the government version of the reform, the boundary after which the reform will exhaust itself is shifted to an earlier period.

The exhaustion of the effect is the result not only of the reproduction of the demographic picture that preceded the reform, but also due to an increase in pension obligations to those who retired later and, accordingly, continued to work all this time. Those. if a reduction in budget expenditures is achieved, then “only in the short term with a subsequent adequate increase in costs for the increased volume of pension rights” .

II

The Government of the Russian Federation, pointing to the increase in life expectancy, which has reached almost 73 years, thus argues that in relation to Russia, not only the theoretical justification for raising the retirement age is valid (“all countries are following this path”), but also the actual one.

In reality this is not the case. As experts point out, life expectancy at birth “is not an indicator that can be used to guide the retirement age.” In this matter, the following two conditions are primarily important: 1) life expectancy upon reaching retirement age, i.e. for Russia, in the case of reform, 65 years for men and 63 years for women and 2) healthy life expectancy.

Both of these conditions apply to Russia “significantly limit the possibility of raising the retirement age even in the long term” .

In 2016 Life expectancy for men at age 65 was 13.4 years, which is for 6 years less than in France, by 4.7 in Germany, by 4.6 in the USA. It is likely that this indicator will continue to serve as a limitation for raising the retirement age, because “according to the forecast developed on the basis of the parameters established by the Concept of Demographic Development of Russia, 60-year-old men will reach the current life expectancy in OECD countries for 65-year-old men no earlier than 2040s» .

For women, the situation is somewhat better, although even when they reach the age of 65, they live less than women in more developed capitalist countries. So, in 2016: Russia – 17.7, France – 23.5 (2015), Germany – 21.3, Italy – 22.9, Japan – 24.4, England – 21.1, USA – 20.6.

As for healthy life expectancy, in Russia in 2016 it was 63.5 years for both sexes. This is 9.9 years less than, for example, in France.

An additional limitation for raising the retirement age is that almost a third of men today simply do not live to see 60 years of age and 40.7% to reach 65 years of age.

As for the growth of life expectancy, according to the UN forecast, the lag behind developed countries in this indicator will continue until the end of the 21st century.

Generally “not only cannot the demographic factor be considered as the main argument for raising the retirement age with a reference “to the West”, but, on the contrary, it is the demographic parameters of our population over the past 25 years (coinciding with the period of economic restructuring) that are the main limiters for raising the retirement age” .

The next argument of the bourgeois government of the Russian Federation sounds as follows: “The demographic situation is such that the proportion of working people is becoming increasingly less, and, accordingly, all pensioners more. Every year this imbalance will only grow along with the burden on those who work.”

On the one hand, indeed, the burden of the elderly is increasing: if in 1990 the load factor was 335 people over working age per 1000 people of working age, then in 2016 - 441, in 2030 - 521, in 2051 - 741 (according to the average version of the Rosstat forecast ).

On the other side, dependency ratio(per 1000 people of working age there are people of non-working age, i.e. younger and older than working age) remains almost unchanged all recent decades due to a reduction in the burden of people under working age - 1960 - 740, 1970 - 785, 1990 - 759, 2016 - 764, 2018 - 786. According to the average forecast of Rosstat, the coefficient of total demographic burden will be in 2021 - 834, 2025 – 856, 2031 – 838, 2035 – 838, 2038 – 864, 2041 – 913, 2051 – 1100.

According to these figures, the total load in relation to 1990 in 2038 will increase by 14%, and after 20 years in relation to 2018 - by 10%. Compared to 2018, in 2041 – by 16%, in 2051 – 40%. A truly significant increase in load has been observed since the early 40s.

Thus, even if we theoretically consider the need and possibility of raising the retirement age, then such a need from the demographic side will become truly relevant for Russia only in the early 2040s, while the possibility remains questionable and highly dependent on economic policies over the next decades.

What can be done in 20 years? During this time, in the Soviet Union they created, which served as a reliable basis for the defeat of the most powerful bourgeois army of the first half of the 20th century. In the 20 years since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the plunder of its wealth by the bourgeoisie has reached unprecedented scale.

III

Experts point out that the existing problems in the Russian pension system today and in the foreseeable future are connected not so much with demography, but with economic inequality.

One source of inequality is the tax system. In the 90s, a progressive tax scale was in effect; since 2001, a proportional one has been in effect. The abolition of the progressive tax was formally justified by its low fiscal significance, i.e. simply put, the state was unable to collect it.

Refusal to introduce a progressive tax scale actually means an admission of the state’s powerlessness “in establishing order in the establishment of civilized forms of remuneration in the country’s economy.”

Proportional tax in Russia formally provides equal conditions for income taxation at a general, flat rate of 13%. But for the poor, in relation to his income, the tax takes away a significant part of the income, which already barely provides for simple survival, while for the rich, after paying the tax, the remaining share of his income provides not only medically necessary, but also simply high or even excessive a high standard of living, and in addition allows you to accumulate free capital.

Until 2001 The Russian Pension Fund and other social funds were financed by collecting insurance contributions. General tariff in 1997 and 2000 amounted to 38.5% of the wage fund for the employer, of which 28% was sent to the Pension Fund, and the employee paid 1% of his salary to the Pension Fund.

In 2001. A regressive unified social tax was introduced. The total rate was 35.6% of which 28% of the funds were sent to the Pension Fund. In 2005, the rate was lowered to 26%. Regressive means that the rich paid less than the poor. 26% was charged on income if during the year the total income did not reach 280,000 rubles. With income above 280,000 rubles. 72,800 rubles were paid. and 10% from the amount of income that exceeded 280,000 rubles. If income exceeded 600,000 rubles, 104,800 rubles were paid. and 2% from the amount of income that exceeded 600,000 rubles. The UST provided revenues to the Pension and other social funds.

Since 2010 instead of the unified social tax, insurance contributions were re-established; from 2012, the regressive scale also assumed a reduction in the rate to the Pension Fund from 22% to 10%.

As a brief conclusion on social taxes, it is quite possible to agree that the unified social tax “with its regressive scale is anti-social, like a flat income tax.” In total, with double taxation of the unified social tax and personal income tax, the worker paid almost 40% of his income. Actually, the flat personal income tax scale in Russia is in fact regressive.

We have already found out earlier that demography cannot, for factual reasons, be a necessary condition for raising the retirement age, at least in the next 20 years. Yes, the demographic issue can be discussed today, but its relevance in the next 20 or more years is low, so demography cannot be considered the main, main reason for the government’s “reforms”.

Raising the retirement age is open, visible, something that millions of people will simultaneously feel, an attack on the rights of almost the entire mass of hired workers. If the ruling class decides to openly intensify exploitation, it means that the threat to its own survival is higher than the future increase in class enmity.

In 2013 Standard & Poor’s experts suggested that the growth of the Russian economy is slowing down not only due to the impact of the global crisis, but also “due to the economy exhausting the potential of the existing growth model,” the Russian economy is “operating almost at the limit of its potential.” Productive growth 1998-2008 was due to the production facilities involved, preserved from the Soviet Union.

Protection of class interests and strengthening dictatorship of the bourgeoisie occurs due to the labor of almost the entire mass of legal and illegal hired workers. While the economy is stagnating with already existing levels of inequality and poverty, recent “reforms” show that exploitation and even real oppression, i.e. falling into absolute poverty tens of millions will acquire different scale.

Karl Marx noted that taxes serve "a means of preserving the position of the bourgeoisie dominant class» . The Russian government, along with changing the retirement age, proposed to compensate for lost income by increasing VAT rates.

In 2016 it was reported that "Officials discuss 'revolutionary tax idea'— reduction of insurance premiums and increase in VAT. In December 2016, V. Putin was instructed to change the tax system by 2019 in order to stimulate business activity and increase the competitiveness of enterprises by reducing the direct fiscal burden on employers and compensating for lost income by increasing VAT.

July 24, 2018 an increase in the VAT rate from 18% to 20% from January 1, 2019 was adopted by the State Duma. Starting in 2019, the Federal Budget will begin to receive an additional 620 billion rubles. in year. VAT is actually a regressive tax and is paid by the buyer; its share in “the amount of the buyer’s income will be less, the greater the amount of his income.” Thus, the VAT increase will primarily affect the lives of the most vulnerable segments of the population, including pensioners. “Indirect taxes are antisocial by their very essence: they fall most heavily on the least affluent segments of the population.”

Along with the VAT increase, a temporarily reduced contribution rate to the Pension Fund of 22% was approved as permanent. As indicated in the financial and economic justification for the bill, the decrease in the volume of receipts from insurance contributions to the Pension Fund, if the reduced rate is approved, will amount to 615.38 billion rubles in 2021, 659.55 billion rubles in 2022, and 659.55 billion rubles in 2023. 705.14 billion rubles, in 2024 763.88 billion rubles.

In 2017 The Ministry of Finance indicated that this change in the tax system “will have a greater positive effect on the economy if it is accompanied by measures to increase supply in the labor market.” For example, a significant increase in supply in the labor market can result from an increase in the retirement age. According to calculations by the Ministry of Economic Development, the number of employed will increase by approximately 300,000 people in 2019 and by 1,800,000 by 2024.

While according to some estimates, due to an increase in the retirement age, in 2019 the working-age population will increase by 2 million people, in 2024 - by approximately 7-8 million and by 2036 - by 12.6 million . As can be seen from these figures, offer in the labor market will greatly exceed height work places.

What conclusions can be drawn?

The way the bourgeoisie increases the degree of exploitation is clearly visible from the tax and pension reform discussed above.

Firstly, lowering the insurance premium rate makes the labor of an employee cheaper for the capitalist, allowing him to extract more profit from his labor.

Secondly, an increase in VAT indirectly reduces the amount of wages paid to the employee, thereby making profits even greater and costs per employee less.

Third, raising the retirement age and, as a result, increasing supply in the labor market increases competition between workers, thereby allowing the capitalist to pay wages even lower than the cost of the labor he buys.

The petty bourgeoisie receives a special position here. For the petty bourgeois, the policies pursued by the government are rather beneficial. The blow dealt to hired workers and their level of wages creates a significant potential for super-exploitation and the extraction of super-profits not only for the big bourgeoisie, but also for the petty bourgeoisie.

This brings us directly to the issue of wages and wealth inequality: “Low wages in Russia are aggravated by its high differentiation. Compared to developed countries of the world, Russian workers receive significantly lower wages and work longer hours for the same money. To produce products of the same value, a Russian worker, on average, spends three times as much time as a worker in the United States.” .

For decades, the ongoing degradation of the economy naturally has a negative impact on labor productivity, the labor intensity of the economy and wages, and the ruling class squeezes all the remaining juice out of this economic gas chamber.

As of 2016, approximately half (47.1%) of the total wage bill in Russia falls on the 20% of the highest paid workers and the other half on the remaining 80% of workers. The ratio of incomes of the 10% of the most and least wealthy population in 1990 was 4.4, in 1991 - 4.5, in 1992 - 8, in 1993 - 11.2, in 1994 - 15, in 2016 - 15.6. In 1991, the Gini coefficient according to Rosstat was 0.260, in 2016 it was 0.412. The higher the value of the Gini coefficient, the greater the economic inequality in the society in question.

In 2016, the average monthly nominal accrued wage was 36,709 rubles, the cost of living was 9,828 rubles. The median salary in 2015 was 24,868 rubles, in 2017 – 28,345 rubles. The median wage means that 50% of workers are paid less than this value, and the other 50% are paid more. The average amount of assigned pensions is 12,391 rubles, the cost of living for a pensioner (PMP) is 8,081 rubles.

With the contribution rate to the Pension Fund equal to 26%, an employee with a median salary would have to work for approximately 25 years to earn 1 PMS, respectively, 50 years - 2 PMS. According to calculations, “only with a salary equal to or above the average in the economy (only 31% of workers receive such a salary), a person can earn a pension of 1.0 PMP in 16.4 years, which justified the establishment of a new minimum in 2015 15 years of experience, 2.0 PMP - for 33 years, i.e., in fact, for the actual average statistical experience for current pensioners. However, to earn 3.0 PMP, you will have to work for 49 years (which is 9 years more than the possible maximum length of service from 20 years to the generally established retirement age of 60 years).”

Naturally, a rate of 22% at this level of income will not be able to maintain a sufficient level of pension provision. The government has found a solution in raising the retirement age. For the ineffective, virtually failed policies of the ruling bourgeois class over all the past decades, wage earners will pay the price, i.e. most of you, dear readers.

The bill adopted by the State Duma on July 24, 2018 also provides that above the established maximum total income, instead of a rate of 22%, a rate of 10% will be applied. In 2018, the limit was equal to RUB 1,021,000, i.e. RUB 85,083 per month.

The 10% of the most paid workers in 2017 accounted for 32.6% of the total wage fund in Russia with an average salary of 127,006 rubles. The 20% of the most paid workers in 2017 accounted for 48% of the total wage fund in Russia with an average salary of 93,468 rubles.

Accordingly, if approximately the same ratio remains in the future (as, indeed, it was the case before), then approximately 48% of the total wage fund in Russia is taxed now and will be taxed in accordance with the reduced contribution rate to the Pension Fund of 10%.

Of course, if, using a regressive tax, the poor and destitute are forced to pay into the Pension Fund first of all, then it will not be possible to provide the elderly with a decent pension. But, of course, there is a solution. According to the capitalist government, it is necessary raise the retirement age.

Experts indicate that “world experience of various pension systems has shown that for their effective functioning, the permissible range of differentiation in wages is 5-6 times”, whereas “The 15-fold difference in wages makes the pension system obviously ineffective”. In other words, “until the problem of low wages is resolved, any parametric transformations within the pension system itself will not bring the desired effect” .

Another direction within the pension reform for the government is hidden wages and, accordingly, shadow employment. “In the period from 2018 to the first half of 2019, we will propose a mechanism for “whitening” wages for those who are currently in the “gray” economy,” explained Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova.

Here, as experts rightly point out, “the introduction of a flat scale of taxation of personal income and even the establishment of a regressive scale of contributions to state social funds did not in any way affect the concealment of personal income from taxation and could not destroy the practice of issuing “envelope” salaries.” What new solution will the government come up with? Not yet known.

As for the volume of hidden wages, it is really significant: in 2016 - 10.3 trillion. rub. Bringing wages out of the shadows would make it possible to cover the Pension Fund deficit; thus, calculations at a rate of 22% show that charging contributions for hidden wages would replenish the Pension Fund budget by approximately 2.2 trillion. rubles, while the budget deficit of the Pension Fund is approximately 1 trillion. rub. It was the same in past years, for example, in 2012, hidden wages amounted to 6.5 trillion. rub.

Even without taking into account the regressive rate, the mere reduction in the rate of contributions to the Pension Fund in 2005 by 8% and in 2012 by another 4% led to an imbalance in the pension system and a chronic deficit, which must be paid by employees who were deprived of both times the money they must now repay. Simply put, let's say that your money was stolen, and now you must also give the same amount of money to the person who stole it from you.

Shadow employment is represented mainly by young people and pensioners. As for pensioners, they “forced to work for survival in the same low-wage jobs for which no one particularly aspires, except, perhaps, temporary labor migrants”. Of the total number of pensioners - working old-age pensioners in 2016 there were 14 million 199 thousand, in 2017 - 8 million 791 thousand.

In general, the shadow economy in Russia is thriving; according to some data, its volume is 33.6 trillion. rub., this is 39% of GDP. With such indicators, Russia is one of the five largest shadow economies in the world. The United States (7.8% of GDP), Japan (10%) and China (10.2%) have the smallest shadow economy.

It is noteworthy that corruption exceeds the budget deficit of the Pension Fund, in 2017 – 1.4 trillion. rub. Those. Without even touching on exploitation, which pushes people into poverty, or “salaries in envelopes,” they simply steal more than the old people need to collect for the pension, which, by the way, they earned.

In addition, there are many tax incentives in Russia. In 2016, their amount amounted to 9.6 trillion. rub., in essence, these are “not just benefits - they are budget expenses, they are money that the budget did not receive,” while their effectiveness has still been practically unexplored. 1/10 of tax benefits covers almost the entire budget deficit of the Pension Fund.

Fourthly, The rich and super-rich extract even more of the surplus value created by the labor of wage workers, using the regressive tax they impose on themselves and their “class brothers.” This, of course, only increases the degree of exploitation of labor by the Russian bourgeoisie.

Fifthly, shadow employment and hidden wages are not so much forced circumstances as they are necessary for the survival of the entire social structure existing in Russia. Corruption and an opaque array of tax benefits organically complement them. All this together completely or partially merges into 33.6 trillion. rub. shadow economy. The cream of this rotten pie is skimmed by the ruling bourgeois class.

In 2008, the net export of capital from Russia by the private sector of the economy amounted to 133.6 billion US dollars, in 2009 - 57.5, in 2010 - 30.8, in 2011 - 81.4, in 2012 - 53.9, in 2013 - 60.3, in 2014 - 152.1, in 2015 - 57, in 2016 - 18.4, in 2017 - 24.8 , in the first quarter of 2018 (estimate) - 13.4. Capital flight from Russia “is a systematic and large-scale phenomenon. It reflects the comprador nature of domestic big business...”

Among other things, we can also say that the increase in pensions of 1000 rubles promised by the government. in reality will be about half this amount, since the indexation of pensions in 2019 is almost 500 rubles. and so was provided for in accordance with current legislation. Due to the pension reform in 2019, retirement will be postponed for 1 year for almost 1.5 million people.

// General conclusions

In a class society, old age is an economic category. The modern Russian bourgeois state is the result of counter-revolution and, accordingly, is engaged in the liquidation of what was created during the years of the revolution.

When, for example, they talk about the injustice of the pension formula by which future pensions are calculated, this is not a figure of speech. It actually contained underestimated coefficients. All the past years, people have received pensions that are less than they actually should have received.

In 1988. Life expectancy in Russia (RSFSR) was 69.9 years, in 2016 - 71.9. In almost 30 years, the growth has been only 2 years. Of course, these are largely the consequences of the counter-revolution that happened, but the ruling bourgeois class is also its consequences. Not only counter-revolution, such as the collapse of the Soviet Union, but also all the last decades of economic policy pursued by this class is the cause of the crisis that is increasingly gripping capitalist Russia today.

Addition to the main text of the article, written in connection with V. Putin’s message on August 29, 2018 regarding pension reform

The main text of the article was completed on August 2 and is published without any significant changes. But in the second half of August, information appeared that the president was going to speak on the issue of pension reform. August 29, President of Russia V. Putin addressed citizens with a short message about the proposed reform of the pension system. One would expect that the speech would be of a nature more consistent with the rhetoric about the whole people and democracy that is usual for the bourgeois class, where the president acts as a kind of “arbiter” who defends the interests of the majority.

In fact, what was previously said in the main text of the article is confirmed. The bourgeois class is experiencing an ever-increasing influence of the economic crisis, which naturally forces them to more and more openly demonstrate and defend their own class interests to the detriment of the overwhelming majority of society - hired workers.

Of course, this is not yet an open terrorist dictatorship; the rhetoric of high-ranking representatives of the ruling class is still trying to convince of the democratic nature of the policy being pursued, although it has already changed from the position of verbally protecting the interests of hired workers, i.e. majority of citizens (for example, V. Putin’s statement against raising the retirement age in 2005), while, naturally, actually defending interests of the ruling bourgeois class, to convince the proletariat of the coincidence of the national and economic interests of the bourgeoisie and the proletariat.

Putin did not make any proposals that would fundamentally change the draft pension reform and raising the retirement age, previously submitted by the Government for consideration to the State Duma and adopted in the first reading. As previously assumed, men will have to retire at 65 years old, while women not at 63, but at 60.

But even the increase for one year has no basis, so reducing the increase in retirement age for women from 8 to 5 years– means that capital will be rob hired workers, but a little less. Nothing stands in the way of the bourgeois class in perspective unleash your appetites to the fullest by raising the retirement age for women up to 65 years old, as in men.

There are a number of other, even less significant proposals made by the president in the general context of pension reform. One of them is to lower the retirement age for women with many children, down to 50 years. However, this is nothing more than a modification of an already existing norm, which is provided for in Art. 32 of the Federal Law of December 28, 2013 N 400-FZ “On Insurance Pensions”.

In 2013-2015 For the first time since 1992, natural population growth was observed, but already in 2016 the number of deaths again exceeded the number of births. Overall, the problem of low fertility can only be solved fundamental changes in social policy, neither maternity capital nor the preferential retirement age appear to be sufficient measures.

Putin further proposed “to establish administrative and even criminal liability for employers for dismissing workers of pre-retirement age, as well as for refusing to hire citizens because of their age.” One gets the well-founded impression that he is simply nothing say, so the best of the worst proposals are voiced. The bourgeois class economically profitable maintain a significant share of the shadow economy, covering it up with frankly ridiculous remarks about the impossibility or inability to carry out the necessary administration. This offer will remain so an empty phrase, what practice will show in the future. This is nothing more than an example of the rhetoric discussed above.

The proposal to slightly more than double the meager unemployment benefit for citizens of pre-retirement age (as expected, this age will be 5 years before reaching retirement age) sounds like a desire to give people the opportunity to suffer a little, and not die immediately after losing their job a few years until retirement.

— preservation of benefits for miners, workers in hot shops, chemical plants, Chernobyl victims, and a number of other categories;

— a 25 percent supplement to the fixed payment of the insurance pension for non-working pensioners living in rural areas who have at least 30 years of experience in agriculture;

— reduce the length of service giving the right to early retirement by three years: for women to 37 years, and for men to 42;

The news of changing the retirement age excited the public.

Many people who were planning to retire in the coming years will now be forced to work for several more years.

It is expected that the new bill will be considered by the State Duma in the near future and adopted, taking into account all the necessary amendments, this fall.

The essence of the pension reform of 2018

Increasing the retirement age has been planned by the government for many years.

Currently, the PFR budget has a deficit of funds, which is planned to be filled with contributions from working citizens. The longer a Russian can work, the more additional funds will flow into the fund’s budget.

Another reason for the adoption of the reform is the planned increase in life expectancy of the country's population.

So far, no clear action plans have been announced to improve the quality of life of citizens, but the government considers it advisable to begin adapting the pension system to future demographic conditions as early as possible.

The essence of this reform is to gradually increase the age for receiving an old-age insurance pension. Currently, women over 55 years of age and men over 60 years of age can become pensioners.

If the bill is successfully approved, the age for a well-deserved pension will change:

• for the female half of the country’s population – from 63 years of age;
• for men - from 65 years old.

In addition, the reform may affect the procedure for the formation of pension savings, conditions for early retirement and the process of providing citizens with monthly payments.

The implementation of amendments and changes to Russian legislation is planned from the beginning of next year. Delays may be caused by the difficult financial and economic situation in the Russian Federation and other nuances.

The retirement age will be increased gradually.

From the launch of the project, the age limit is planned to be raised for one year on even dates. Such a process will drag on for at least 10–16 years, that is, until 2034 inclusive.

Pension reform in 2018: retirement table

As stated above, the changes will be implemented in stages.

The government plans to increase the retirement age of Russians by 5 years for the male half of the population and by 5 years for the female half. The process will tentatively begin in 2019.

UPD: The President of the Russian Federation has made amendments to the law - the retirement age for women will also be raised by 5 years, as for men. That is, the new retirement age for women in Russia is 60 years old.

Comment from the President of the Russian Federation

“The draft law proposes to increase the retirement age for women by eight years - to 63 years, while for men it is raised by five years. That won't work, of course. It is not right. And in our country there is a special, caring attitude towards women. We understand that they not only work at their main place of work, they, as a rule, are responsible for the entire house, caring for the family, raising children, and caring for grandchildren. The retirement age for women should not be raised more than for men. Therefore, I consider it necessary to reduce the increase in the retirement age for women proposed by the bill from eight to five years,” Putin said during his speech.

He also proposed providing for the right to early retirement for mothers with many children.

“That is, if a woman has three children, she will be able to retire three years early. If there are four children - four years earlier. And for women who have five or more children, everything should remain as it is now; they will be able to retire at 50,” the Russian President added.

Below is the retirement table following the 2018 pension reform, showing the planned changes to the law.

Thus, the annual change in retirement age will be carried out in increments of one year.

Consequences of the 2018 pension reform

Despite a lot of positive feedback about innovations from the state, the majority of the country's population reacted negatively to the news about raising the age for a well-deserved retirement.

The protests are associated with many reasons, one of which is low life expectancy in certain regions.

Thus, according to data for 2017, many citizens do not live to see retirement. This is especially true for the male half of the country's population.

Raising the retirement age in the near future, given the statistics, looks inappropriate.

Despite the task set by the President of the Russian Federation to increase the life expectancy of Russians, it will not be possible to achieve the desired result in the shortest possible time. Even taking into account the effectiveness of future government measures, the process will take at least a decade.

State representatives assure that all planned changes in legislation are aimed at increasing the quality of life of citizens and improving their well-being.

As Prime Minister D. A. Medvedev said at a government meeting, the reform will gradually increase the size of pension payments up to 12 thousand rubles per year.

In practice, Russian citizens will have to face the following consequences:

• rising youth unemployment;
• the need to retrain the adult generation;
• the risk of facing discrimination based on age;
• lack of jobs for older people;
• a decrease in consumer demand due to a decrease in expected income;
• low labor productivity.

Supporters of the innovations believe that the reform will make it possible to attract experienced and qualified older specialists to work. In practice, many employers will refuse to hire older people and will give preference to the younger generation.

The increase in youth unemployment is caused by many internal and economic problems.

Extending the retirement period could lead to jobs that were intended for young professionals being reserved for older citizens forced to work due to changes in the law.

In addition, the issue of developing retraining programs for older people is an urgent issue.

Many areas require contact with digital technologies. Some professions disappear, being replaced by others, or develop over time. Without appropriate training, it will not be possible to master new in-demand specialties.

The amounts of pension payments in some regions are extremely low, so pensioners are forced to continue working in order to receive additional income.

After the reform is approved, the income level of elderly people will sharply decrease, even if the citizen is officially employed. This will also have a negative impact on the country's economic sphere.

Are there any positive aspects to the reform?

It is difficult to answer this question unambiguously, because changes in the law will lead to a lot of negative consequences for the economy and the financial situation of older people and young people.

Some experts believe that the reform will help balance the fund’s budget and “patch” the existing “holes” in it.

Another positive aspect is the planned increase in the amount of payments. However, in this case, the monthly amount received by the pensioner will be supplemented by only one thousand rubles. It is also unclear when the pension increase is expected.

Are changes possible in the 2018 pension reform?

Innovations are not supported by most of the country, even young people under the age of 35. Protests from the population may have a certain impact on the process of adopting the bill.

At the moment, the reform has not yet been approved by the State Duma, so amendments may be made to the text of the document.

Perhaps the “strict” conditions proposed by the government were announced specifically in order to be able to slightly soften the planned changes without causing a big resonance in society.

UPD 08.29.18: The draft amendments to pension legislation have already passed the first reading in the State Duma. The bill envisages a gradual increase, starting in 2019, of the retirement age to 65 years for men and to 63 years for women (the transition period for them will continue until 2028 and 2034, respectively). Amendments to the document are collected until September 24.

The President also proposed providing tax benefits for citizens of pre-retirement age.

“We traditionally provided these benefits only upon retirement. But in this case, when changes are coming to the pension system, and people were counting on these benefits, we are obliged to make an exception for them, to provide benefits not in connection with retirement, but upon reaching the appropriate age. That is, as before, women will be able to take advantage of benefits when they reach 55 years of age and men - from 60 years of age.”

The pension reform in 2018 affected the retirement age of Russians.

Currently, the retirement age for men is 60 years, for women - 55 years.

Changes in the retirement age were adopted by the State Duma in the first reading on July 19, 2018 of the government bill on gradually increasing the retirement age to 65 years for men (by 2028) and 63 years for women (by 2034).

It is planned that the increase in working age will occur in stages - 1 year annually, starting from January 1, 2019. The transition period will end in 2028 for men and in 2034 for women.

The developed changes will not affect citizens who have already been assigned a pension - they will continue to receive the required social and pension payments, and all acquired benefits will also be preserved.

Also in the bill, the Government provides for the possibility of early retirement after developing a long work history (at least 40 years and 45 years for women and men, respectively).

In this case, it will be possible to start receiving a pension 2 years earlier than the established period, but in any case not earlier than men reach 60 years of age and women reach 55 years of age.

Putin spoke quite unequivocally about pension reform: there will be pension reform.

Amendments

The President of Russia made an appeal to the citizens of the country, in which he did not refuse to raise the retirement age, but tried to explain to the people why the changes were overdue.

At the same time, he proposed softening a number of provisions of the bill developed by the government and adopted in the first reading by the State Duma.

Putin on pension reform

The main problem, according to Putin, is the demographic crisis; the working population in the country is becoming smaller. The demographic failure of the late 90s turned out to be comparable to the war years of 1943 and 1944, he said.

“The conclusion is clear: as the working-age population decreases, the possibilities for paying and indexing pensions automatically decrease. This means changes are necessary,” the president emphasized.

In the early 2000s, when the president opposed raising the retirement age, the socio-economic situation in the country was difficult, people were unemployed, often living on one pension.

“Now unemployment in the country is at a historic low, and in general the economy has become much stronger,” Putin said about the pension reform.

The President also emphasized that life expectancy is increasing in the country - over the past 15 years it has increased by almost 15 years.

By the end of the next decade, “we have set ourselves a goal of achieving a life expectancy of over 80 years by the end of the next decade.”

The state has the resources not to change anything for another 7-10 years. “But we know that the time will gradually come when the state will not have enough funds to index pensions. And then the regular payment of pensions itself may become a problem, as it already was in the 90s,” Vladimir Putin noted about the pension reform.

The main changes to the pension reform proposed by V.V. Putin

The President proposed setting the retirement age for women at 60 years, and not at 63, as previously proposed.

The retirement age for men is not expected to change - it is 65 years old.

“I consider it necessary to reduce the increase in the retirement age for women proposed by the bill from 8 to 5 years,” Putin said about pension reform and raising the retirement age.

Also in 2019, the indexation of old-age pensions will be about 7%, which is twice as high as the predicted inflation at the end of 2018.

“In general, over the next six years we will be able to annually increase the old-age pension for non-working pensioners by an average of 1 thousand rubles. As a result, this will make it possible in 2024 to reach an average level of pensions for non-working pensioners of 20 thousand rubles per month - now, let me remind you, this is 14,144 rubles,” said V.V. Putin.

Retirement age - table by year

The increase in working age will occur smoothly, which means that many citizens will begin to receive an old-age insurance pension during the transition period.

These include:

• women born 1964-1971;
• men born 1959-1963.

Russians born after this period will retire upon reaching the new established age (63 and 65 years).

Retirement age table by year for women*

* According to Vladimir Putin’s address to Russian citizens dated August 29, 2018, the retirement age for women will be increased not by 8 years, but by 5; these tables may be changed. In addition, citizens who were supposed to retire in the next two years will be able to apply for a pension six months ahead of schedule.

Retirement age table by year for men*

* Table data is subject to change. Citizens who were supposed to retire in the next two years will be able to apply for a pension six months ahead of schedule.

Benefits and early retirement

Amendments by V.V. Putin will allow mothers of many children to retire early.

“If a woman has three children, she will be able to retire three years early. If you have four children - four years earlier. And for women who have five or more children, everything should remain as it is now, they will be able to retire at 50,” said V.V. Putin.

1. The assignment of a social pension for citizens who do not have sufficient work experience is planned to be established at the age of 65 for women and 70 for men.
2. For citizens who were supposed to retire under the old legislation in the next two years, the president proposed to establish a special benefit - the right to apply for a pension six months earlier than the new retirement age.
3. The head of state stated the need to maintain the current conditions for granting pensions for the indigenous peoples of the North.
4. Non-working pensioners in rural areas with at least 30 years of experience in agriculture will receive a 25% premium to the fixed insurance pension payment from January 1, 2019.
5. Women and men who have earned 37 and 42 years of service, respectively, can retire early. The first version of the law provided for 40 and 45 years.
6. For the transition period V.V. Putin proposed maintaining all federal benefits on real estate and land taxes in force as of December 31, 2018.

Employer's responsibility under the new pension reform

Pre-retirement age V.V. Putin proposed counting five years until retirement.

The President spoke in favor of introducing administrative and criminal liability for dismissal or refusal to hire employees at this age.

The corresponding changes must be made simultaneously with the adoption of the main draft law.

“We will be happy to join in the preparations and pass laws to tighten administrative and criminal liability for employers who allow themselves to offend people of pre-retirement age,” said the head of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko.

It is also proposed to increase the upper limit of unemployment benefits from 4.9 to 11.2 thousand rubles from January 1, 2019.

Tatyana Golikova explained that adjusting the pension reform will cost the state several trillion rubles.

“Refusal to increase the age to 63 years and transfer to 60 years is 3.2 trillion rubles in money,” Golikova said on the Rossiya-1 TV channel.

Video – V.V. Putin on pension reform and retirement age (08/29/18)

So, a short summary, V.V. Putin said about pension reform that it is necessary:

• Raise the retirement age for women not by 8 years, but by 5, just like for men.
• Provide for the possibility of early retirement for mothers of many children. Women with three children will be able to retire three years earlier than the established period, if four children - four years earlier, for women with five or more children the possibility of retiring at 50 years will remain.
• Benefits for citizens who, according to the old legislation, were supposed to retire in the next two years - the right to apply for a pension 6 months earlier than the new retirement age.
• Tightening administrative and criminal liability for employers for dismissing employees near retirement age or refusing to hire such citizens because of their age.
• Increasing the maximum amount of unemployment benefits for citizens of pre-retirement age from 4,900 rubles to 11,280 rubles, starting from January 1, 2019, the payment period will be set at one year.
• Leave the current conditions for granting pensions for the indigenous peoples of the North unchanged.
• Introduction of a 25 percent supplement to the insurance pension for non-working pensioners living in villages whose experience in agriculture is at least 30 years.
• Reducing the length of service that gives the right to early retirement by three years, that is, for women it will be 37 years, and for men - 42 years.
• Maintain all federal property benefits, as well as tax benefits in effect as of December 31, 2018, throughout the transition period.

Until 2019, persons who had reached the age of 65 years for men and 60 years for women were eligible (i.e., 5 years later than the generally established retirement age of 60/55 years for 2018). Under the new law, such a right will arise only upon reaching 70 and 65 years of age(i.e. also with an increase of 5 years relative to the new age of 65/60 years).

At the same time, for social pensions, the law also provides for transitional provisions that establish a gradual increase in the retirement age, starting January 1, 2019(and in 2019 and 2020, preferential retirement conditions will apply, in accordance with those proposed by the President).

All new statutory retirement ages for receiving social pensions for men and women (70 and 65 years old, respectively) will be finally established in 2023.

Who will not be affected by raising the retirement age in Russia?

First of all, changes provided for by law from 2019 will not affect those who are already retired- all pensioners will continue to receive all payments already assigned to them in accordance with previously acquired rights and benefits.

In addition, the adopted law does not provide increasing the retirement age for certain categories of citizens:

1. Those employed in jobs with difficult and harmful working conditions, namely:
   • employees in whose favor the employer pays insurance premiums at the appropriate rates, which were determined as a result of a special assessment of working conditions;
   • civil aviation pilots, aircraft maintenance engineers and technicians;
   • flight test personnel involved in testing aircraft and other equipment;
   • workers of locomotive crews, workers organizing transportation and ensuring traffic safety on railway transport and in the metro;
   • drivers of construction, road, loading and unloading equipment;
   • tractor drivers working in agriculture and other fields;
   • workers in logging, timber rafting, as well as those involved in servicing machinery and equipment;
   • truck drivers in mines, quarries, shafts, etc.;
   • in underground or open-pit mining, in mine rescue units, in the extraction of shale, coal, ore and other minerals;
   • in the construction of mines and mines;
   • in geological exploration, search, topographic teams and expeditions, in survey and other work;
   • in the sea and river fleet, in the fishing industry;
   • drivers of passenger transport on regular city routes (buses, trolleybuses, trams);
   • lifeguards in emergency services;
   • working with convicts in organizations executing criminal sentences in the form of imprisonment;
   • women working in the textile industry with heavy loads in high-intensity conditions and others.
2. Citizens who are entitled to a pension for health reasons or social reasons:
   • one of the parents or guardians who raised them until they reached the age of 8;
   • visually impaired people of group 1;
   • women who have given birth to 5 or more children and raised them until they reach 8 years of age;
   • women who have given birth to 2 or more children and have established work experience in the Far North and equivalent areas, and others.
3. Persons who suffered as a result of man-made or radiation disasters (at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, the Mayak chemical plant, the Semipalatinsk test site, etc.).

A complete detailed list of persons who will not be affected by the government-planned increase in the retirement age from 2019 is provided in (PDF file format), prepared by specialists of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation.