Lawmakers vote overwhelmingly to raise Russia's minimum wage

[pms]

MOSCOW (AP) - Russian lawmakers voted to raise the
country's monthly minimum wage Friday from 300 rubles (dlrs
9.68) to 500 rubles (dlrs 16.13).

  The Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament, passed the
measure by a landslide 413 to 0 with 2 abstentions. It will
take effect May 1.

  The Duma also raised the minimum benefits for temporary
worker compensation for illness or injury from 100 rubles
(dlrs 3.23) to 150 rubles (dlrs 4.84) per month.

  Nearly all Russians earn more than the minimum wage, but
it is used as an important baseline for government budget
calculations and to determine some fines.

Is that 500 rubles a MONTH?  And workman/s comp is 150/mo?  How much is the
cheapest decent apartment/mo?  Also, how do Russians get healthcare?  Is it
one system or many systems, ie, private insure, employer related insure,
charity, like US?