The meeting’s agenda: measures to increase labour productivity and create high performance jobs.
Dmitry Medvedev’s opening remarks:
Government meeting
Good afternoon, colleagues. We will begin our meeting by discussing ways to increase labour productivity and create high performance jobs. These are absolutely crucial issues for the economy. As we all know, we have never been satisfied with labour productivity growth in our country; since the beginning of the post-Soviet period, the growth seemed to be decelerating and now it does not exceed 1.6 percent (2013 results).
The objective is a major challenge: we need to break the trend. By 2018, plans call for increasing labour productivity by almost 50 percent as compared to 2011. There is also a goal to modernise 25 million high performance jobs. The Minister of Economic Development will report on progress in this area today.
Dmitry Medvedev: "By 2018, plans call for increasing labour productivity by almost 50 percent as compared to 2011. There is also a goal to modernise 25 million high performance jobs."
I’d like to emphasise that our goal is very ambitious, and to achieve success it is imperative to ensure coordinated efforts of the Government, employers and the regions. It is important to motivate industrial production facilities – that is, their owners – to abandon outdated equipment, introduce modern technology (all companies, included large state ones, should be involved), engage in corporate procedures, cut down expenses and finally work to increase labour productivity.
The next issue, which also has to do with the promotion of economic growth, is the project funding mechanism. Today we shall discuss the general ways of addressing this kind of funding today, in particular, the banking industry’s participation in financing Russian companies’ investment projects aimed at the output of highly developed products, implementing energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly technology, as well as import substitution.
The investors who develop such projects must be offered affordable long-term credits. In particular – we have the right to count on this, anyway – the interest rate, i.e. the maximum final cost of the loan for the borrower, should not exceed the Bank of Russia’s base rate by more than 1%. This is, of course, well below the average market rate. However, the banks that are permitted to take part in this process will enjoy government support.
Another issue of public interest is railway fares, especially during summer holidays.
Dmitry Medvedev: "Today, we propose to amend the Railway Statutes with regard to passenger fares, introducing non-refundable tickets, the same as with the standard air carriage contract, whereby the fare is not refundable to a passenger who does not end up travelling. This will result in fare reduction, as the risks of a refund and failed resale of a ticket, thus far accounted for in the fare, will be eliminated, and the ticket price will be amended accordingly."
Today, we propose to amend the Railway Statutes with regard to passenger fares, introducing non-refundable tickets, the same as with the standard air carriage contract, whereby the fare is not refundable to a passenger who does not end up travelling. This will result in fare reduction, as the risks of a refund and failed resale of a ticket, thus far accounted for in the fare, will be eliminated, and the ticket price will be amended accordingly. Of course, individual circumstances may vary, and the passenger will be free to choose whether to save on the fare or to retain the right of exchanging the ticket. Also, should the trip be cancelled for force majeure reasons, such as sudden illness or accident, a refund, if documentary evidence is provided, may certainly be allowed.
Naturally, similar regulations will apply in the event that train departures are delayed, and if certain trains are cancelled.
Dmitry Medvedev: "We will also review a draft law on abolishing restrictions on the use of online documents during professional engagement or interaction between individuals, legal entities and government agencies. The changes concern a number of related laws, primarily licensing legislation, executive procedure and state control. From now on, individuals and businesspeople will be able to choose between printed and online documents, while maintaining relations with government agencies."
We will also review a draft law on abolishing restrictions on the use of online documents during professional engagement or interaction between individuals, legal entities and government agencies. The changes concern a number of related laws, primarily licensing legislation, executive procedure and state control. From now on, individuals and businesspeople will be able to choose between printed and online documents, while maintaining relations with government agencies.
I would also like to say a few words on the issue of Crimea. Today, we will make a number of decisions, including on the payment of compensations to the peninsula’s agricultural producers for their losses. An additional 273 million roubles’ worth of federal budget funding is to be allocated for this purpose.
Funding is also stipulated for the development of the Artek International Children’s Centre. On Monday, I signed a document on establishing this new Russian international children’s centre. But we realise (most of those present have been there, one way or another) that Artek is in a rundown, and sometimes even deplorable, state. Therefore we must put it in order. This year, 900 million roubles’ worth of federal budget funding will be spent for this purpose.
I would like to mention one more issue: the establishment of temporary centres for accommodating refugees now arriving in Russia from neighbouring Ukraine. Our task is to do everything possible to ensure that people who have practically left the war zone feel safe and comfortable, and so that they receive extra food and medical support, at the least. But this is an additional load on the budget of the Rostov Region.
Dmitry Medvedev: "That Artek is in a rundown, and sometimes even deplorable, state. Therefore we must put it in order. This year, 900 million roubles’ worth of federal budget funding will be spent for this purpose."
I have issued the relevant instruction, and our Government colleagues have addressed this issue. We will have to allocate federal budget assistance, as promised, to the region.
The budget of the Rostov Region will receive about 240 million roubles as compensation for these unscheduled expenditures.
But, of course, this is not all. There are some other issues as well. Let’s discuss them now.
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