The second autumn month traditionally brings Belarusians many changes, including those that directly affect the thickness of their wallets. However, the innovations in October 2023 are expected to be very diverse – we found out exactly what and whom they will affect.
The second autumn month
traditionally brings Belarusians many changes, including those that
directly affect the thickness of their wallets. However, the innovations in October
2023 are expected to be very diverse – we found out exactly what and whom they will affect.
Medical workers to see salary increases
From October 1, 2023, some medical workers will receive a salary increase:
the Ministry of Health made the corresponding decision on September 5, and it
comes into force on the first day of October. The department's resolution increases
the amount of incentive and compensatory payments.
Who will receive a salary increase?
This applies to employees with higher non-medical education (psychologists,
biologists, entomologists, physicists, chemists, physiologists, etc.). If previously
they were entitled to a bonus of 100% of their salary, then from October 1 it
increases to 150%. The Ministry of Health's resolution also sets bonuses for the
complexity and intensity of work, depending on the level of the institution (you can
find all the details here).
Heating is expected to be switched on in October, and schoolchildren will
definitely start their holidays. Photo: archive, illustrative purposes only.
Heating will be switched on when the temperature is +8 for 5 days
Continuing with the good news. Very soon, heating will begin to be switched on in Belarus.
According to the rules and current standards, it is switched on in residential buildings
when the average daily air temperature does not exceed 8 degrees Celsius for five
consecutive days. It is almost certain that this will happen in October. As we
wrote, the Ministry of Housing and Communal Services has already announced the
estimated date for switching on the heating: October 1. It should be noted that in
2022, heating in Belarusian homes began to be switched on in the second half of
September, in 2021 the heating season started on September 22, and in 2020 it
started only on October 13. In any case, in October 2023, heating will be switched
on in Belarus in homes, schools, kindergartens, and offices (you can find out when
this happened in previous years here).
In October, pensioners can still travel to their dachas at half price. Photo:
archive, illustrative purposes only.
An important 50% discount for pensioners will be cancelled
October 31 is the last day of this dacha season when pensioners can
travel on regional trains (economy class) at half price.
It should be noted that the traditional discount on travel on regional trains
of the economy class of Belarusian Railways is introduced from May 1 and is provided for the entire period
of agricultural work. However, from November 1, pensioners will be able to get to their dachas
by purchasing a ticket at full price.
It will become known whether child benefits and pensions will increase
In October, it will become known whether pensions and child benefits in Belarus will be raised,
which are tied to the subsistence minimum.
Its amount is revised exactly four times a year, i.e., once a quarter: from May 1, from August 1, from November 1, and from February 1. Thus, by
the end of October, there will be unambiguous clarity on this issue. It should be recalled that from August 1, the subsistence minimum was raised from 352.13 to 364.4 rubles, i.e., the summer increase was 12 rubles 27 kopecks (or +3.5%).
Overall, from November 1, various allowances and increases
integrated into the social protection system, as well as certain social payments dependent on the subsistence minimum, will be automatically revised. What specific (in BYN) this change will be will be clarified in October.
The second autumn month will bring many innovations to Belarusians. Photo: archive, illustrative purposes only.
Schoolchildren – get ready for the long-awaited holidays
It would seem that the academic year has just started and Belarusian schoolchildren
have taken their seats. The granite of science is being gnawed with varying degrees of success, and here the holidays have arrived. The first quarter in Belarusian schools ends on October 28. Autumn holidays, therefore, are from October 29 to November 7, 2023. School resumes on Wednesday, November 8 (here we talk about when winter holidays will begin, they are also not far off and will last for a whole 15 days).
The clock hands will be moved
At the end of October, specifically on the night of the 28th to the 29th, about seventy countries
will switch to winter time. Among them are Belarus's neighbours Ukraine, Lithuania, and Latvia. The time difference with the latter will be one hour: 11 AM in Minsk, 10 AM in Kyiv or Vilnius. As for Poland, the difference between Minsk and Warsaw will be two hours: when it is already noon in the Belarusian capital, it will be 10 AM in Warsaw.
All this should be taken into account if you are planning trips abroad, as the transition to winter time also changes the actual departure time of international
buses, trains, and also plane departures. It should be noted that the change of clocks in October will not alter the identical time in Minsk and Moscow; the clocks here will remain in perfect synchronisation.
From October 16, Belarusians will have a flight programme to a new Egyptian resort. Photo: archive, for illustrative purposes only.
A flight to a new Egyptian resort will open for Belarusians
Speaking of planes and departures, there is excellent news: starting from October 16, Belavia is launching a new route, opening a flight programme to the Egyptian resort of Marsa Alam. It is designed so that Belarusians can enjoy either 10 or 11 nights of holiday. Marsa Alam is a relatively new Egyptian resort, located 260 kilometres from Hurghada (all details here). There is also another piece of news. As we reported, charter flights were supposed to fly from Minsk to Doha, the capital of Qatar, from October 10. The flight programme, as announced, was scheduled until March 2024 with the prospect of further extension. However, it turned out that it has been cancelled for now, which means direct charter flights to Doha should not be expected yet.
September 2023 in Belarus was warm and sunny. Photo: archive, for illustrative purposes only.
Burial benefit will increase
The amount of burial benefit will increase in Belarus. Its size is reviewed monthly in the republic and depends on the average salary in Belarus for the month before last, counting from the date of death. From October 1, 2023, the burial benefit will be 1962 Belarusian rubles and 40 kopecks (this was the average salary in Belarus in August 2023). Thus, compared to September 2023, the increase will be 29 Belarusian rubles and 30 kopecks.
Cigarettes will become more expensive in Belarus from October 1
Belarusian suppliers and manufacturers of cigarettes can review the prices of their products monthly. While it is not yet reported how they will act in October 2023, some cigarettes will undoubtedly become more expensive anyway. This is because another increase in excise tax rates on cigarettes is planned for the second autumn month of 2023, a point determined by the updated Tax Code. Prices will change as follows: for cigarettes of the first price group – plus 21.1% to September rates; for cigarettes of the second price category – plus 11.9%
Read on WWW.BELARUS.KP.RU: https://www.belarus.kp.ru/daily/27560/4828594/