18 April, Minsk /BELTA correspondent/. In Belarus, a 5% increase in the first category tariff rate is planned from May 1, 2012. As reported to BELTA by the Presidential Press Service, Alexander Lukashenko, on April 17, during a report by the Prime Minister, approved the approaches proposed by the government regarding the necessity of increasing the first category rate by up to 5% from May 1 for budget-funded and equivalent categories of employees. As noted by Mikhail Myasnikovich, in accordance with the President's instructions, a system has been established that allows enterprises to independently regulate labor payment issues, and many enterprises are successfully using this mechanism. A large number of enterprises, mainly city-forming and backbone enterprises, have a sufficiently high level of labor payment. "Due to the fact that wages in public administration bodies and for military personnel have declined, a decision has been made to increase wages for these categories from May 1. Primarily, of course, this will be financed by funds that specific organizations can save through staff optimization, reduction of other expenses, such as current repairs, transport costs, procurement of furniture, inventory, and so on. At the same time, we have allocated corresponding funds in the current year's budget, which will also be directed towards these goals," the Prime Minister informed. -0-

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