A quarter of belorussians lives below the poverty line

Belorussian minister of Trade Ivan Liakh gave a press-conference, dedicated to a question of real of belorussian people. At last the minister explained his position. Trade Union leaders often reproach the Minister of Labor that it defends our rights without any zeal. They say that our wage-push is fictiticios comparing with its dollar equivalent. But Ivan Liakh announces that such a comparison isn't right because our prices are not comparable with the world market. The minister prognoses that if we are able to provide 2 per cent real wage-push there. will be no decline in living standards.

What are the standards now?

The family is considered to live under the poverty line if its income is less than 130 percent of the minimal wages level. In fact, to get such wages is impossible for the quarter of our people.

The question of unemployment was also touched upon. There are 10500 of unemployed nowadays, but the level of unemployed has lessened in comparison with last year

Women make the biggest part of unemployed- 66 percents. There has also been an increase in youth unemployment.

There is a tendency towards making the legislature of Russia and Belarus closer before future integration. Minister of Trade also underlined, that he highly recommends signing working contracts as a mean of creating better conditions of work for our people.

By Tatiana Stchedrenok
Picture by Michail Laritchev
Translated by Olga Dubeshko and Olga Detiuk
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