The Government of Belarus proposes to increase the minimum work experience to 15 years

October 21, Minsk /BELTA correspondent/. The Government of Belarus has prepared a draft normative act, which provides for a set of measures to involve citizens evading work in labour to the maximum extent possible, as well as to create additional incentives for conscientious labour. This was reported to the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko on October 20 by Deputy Prime Minister Anatoly Tozik at a meeting on employment and migration issues in the country, BELTA was informed by the press service of the head of state.

In particular, it is proposed to increase the minimum work record with payment of mandatory insurance contributions to the social protection fund of the population for the appointment of labour pensions from 10 to 15 years. When calculating pensions, it is proposed to take the last 20 years of service as a basis. In the absence of the required general and insurance work record, to increase the age for applying for a social pension by five years: to 60 years for women and 65 years for men, and possibly to establish a uniform age threshold of 65 years.

According to Anatoly Tozik, for those who do not pay income tax and contributions to the social protection fund, a list of minimum assistance that they can receive free of charge from the state should be determined.

The Government proposes to strengthen the impact of long work record on the amount of appointed pension, primarily for low-paid categories of workers.

In the opinion of the Deputy Prime Minister, in order for the population to work better, it is necessary to create economic incentives, adjust social policy and clarify state social standards, and revise labour norms. Anatoly Tozik believes that the implementation of these measures would allow to increase nominal wages in the country, bringing their level in line with neighbouring countries.

Work has begun in the country to ensure the necessary labour force mobility. In this regard, the government considers it advisable to continue reducing state-supported housing construction and increasing the construction of affordable rental housing with appropriate support for large families and other categories in need.

The Deputy Prime Minister also made a number of proposals concerning changes in the structure and quality of personnel training, raising the status of vocational and secondary specialized education, as well as coordinating the work of ministries and departments. These proposals will be submitted for consideration by the head of state in early November.

Anatoly Tozik believes that the country has the opportunities toto cover all the needs of the economy with its own labor resources, accepting only specialists needed by the country from among foreign citizens.

"We need results. How you achieve results is your business," Alexander Lukashenko emphasized. "But a person who works day in and day out should not be working for some homeless people!".