Ukraine's minister of social policy called on Wednesday for an increase in the retirement age despite widespread public anger over the proposal.
Government plans to raise the pension age have sparked protests across the former Soviet state, which is trying to tackle a growing public debt.
Kiev was forced to seek an international financial bail-out last year.
In December, it received the first $1.5 billion of a $15.15 billion IMF loan to help reduce its budget deficit.
"We should raise the pension age for certain categories of people," Deputy Prime Minister Serhiy Tihipko said in parliament on Wednesday.
He said there is "no alternative" to the planned pension reform. Earlier this month, he said Ukraine should approve the first stage of the legislation by mid March.
KIEV, February 16 (RIA Novosti)
