The state must fulfill all its promises regarding support for families with children. This was stated by the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko on December 5 during a report by the Minister of Labour and Social Protection Marianna Shchetkina, as reported to BELTA by the press service of the Belarusian leader.
The state must fulfill all its promises regarding support for families with children. This was stated by the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko on December 5 during a report by the Minister of Labour and Social Protection Marianna Shchetkina, as reported to BELTA by the press service of the Belarusian leader.
The meeting discussed measures for state support of families raising children and for stimulating the birth rate.
"We have determined that this is the most crucial issue for us. The population in Belarus must grow," said the head of state.
The President was presented with a draft decree developed taking into account the remarks and proposals previously discussed at a relevant meeting chaired by the head of state. Alexander Lukashenko noted that before signing it, he wanted to understand structurally all the nuances of state support. The document will come into effect on January 1, 2015.
In particular, it is planned to introduce a family capital of $10,000 upon the birth of a third or subsequent child.
"We agreed that the measures will be long-term. For every third or subsequent child, the family is provided with $10,000. They will be able to use this capital in 18 years. This will already be, we have calculated, $14,000, and perhaps even $15,000. This is good money. This is long-term support. There is also current support, short-term, financial assistance, payments, preferential housing loans, etc.," said the President.
"The main thing is to proceed from the economy, from the capabilities of our budget. If we take on excessive obligations and then fail to fulfill them, we will nullify our entire policy of supporting families raising children, and much has been done in this regard," emphasized Alexander Lukashenko. "Therefore, we cannot afford to make mistakes. What we promise, we must definitely do. There should be no excesses here either."
The draft decree on family capital provides for the one-time provision of $10,000 in non-cash funds to families upon the birth of a third or subsequent child. Belarusian citizens are eligible for family capital upon the birth or adoption of a third or subsequent child born between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2019. Family capital will be granted upon application to local executive and administrative bodies. The right to apply for family capital can be exercised within 6 months from the date of birth or adoption of the third or subsequent child. The right to dispose of family capital funds will arise 18 years after the child's birth, due to whom the family became eligible for family capital. Family capital funds can be used for housing improvement, education, social services, healthcare, and the mother's funded pension. Funds can also be used prematurely for paid medical services. Family capital funds will be deposited into citizens' accounts at JSC "ASB Belarusbank". The republican budget has already allocated Br1.8 trillion for this project for 2015.
Another form of state support will be a monthly allowance for families with two or more children.
Specifically, it is envisaged that families raising minor children will receive a monthly allowance equal to 50% of the highest subsistence minimum per capita, approved by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, for the last two quarters. The right to this allowance will be held by the mother or father (adoptive parent, guardian) raising children under three years of age and children between three and 18 years of age simultaneously, and who are eligible for child care allowance up to three years of age. This type of allowance will be paid to the family until the youngest child reaches the age of three.
Br1.6 trillion will be required for current family support, and these funds have already been planned in the republican budget for 2015.
When granting both this allowance and family capital, children in children's residential institutions or educational institutions with round-the-clock stay will not be taken into account. Furthermore, parents deprived of parental rights whose children are in state care will not be eligible for these types of state support.
The draft decree also provides for a reduction to 5% of the refinancing rate for the use of preferential loans for housing construction for young families with two minor children.
The Head of State generally agreed with the main provisions contained in the draft decree.
News of Belarus (BELTA)