On December 28, Minsk /Elena Prus - BELTA/. In Belarus, from January 1, 2013, the monthly minimum wage is set by the government at Br1 million 395 thousand, and the hourly wage at Br8 thousand 340. This was reported to BELTA correspondent by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection. According to specialists, as a result, the ratio of the minimum wage (MW) to the average per capita minimum consumer budget of a family of four at the beginning of 2013 will be 100.2% (by the resolution of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection for the period from November 1, 2012, to January 31, 2013, the average per capita minimum consumer budget of a family of four was approved at Br1 million 391 thousand 530). The legal basis for determining the size and application of the MW is regulated by the Law of the Republic of Belarus "On the Establishment and Procedure for Increasing the Minimum Wage". The MW (monthly and hourly) is applied exclusively in the sphere of labour relations as a state minimum social standard in the field of remuneration for work under normal conditions when the established (monthly and hourly) work norm is fulfilled, and ensures social protection of employees. The amounts of the minimum wage (monthly and hourly) are established by the Council of Ministers annually from January 1, based on the employee's needs for material goods and services, the economic capabilities of the republican and local budgets, as well as employers, and the ratio between its amounts and social standards (subsistence minimum budget, minimum consumer budget). It should be emphasized that the MW amount established by law and taking into account indexation is mandatory for employers as the lowest limit of employee remuneration. The measures for the implementation of the Program for the Social and Economic Development of the Republic of Belarus for 2011-2015 stipulate that the MW should be set annually at a level not lower than the minimum consumer budget of a family of four at the beginning of the year, in order to ensure its level at no less than one-third of the average wage for the reporting period.