Updated at 17:53,27-03-2024

Lukashenka directs that average pay increase to $500 next year

Zakhar SHCHARBAKOW, Naviny.by

Lukashenka directs that average pay increase to $500 next year
While visiting the Mahilyow region on Monday, Alyaksandr Lukashenka told the government that average monthly pay in Belarus was not high enough and should increase to $500 in 2017.

The Belarusian leader warned that wages should not be raised if labor productivity did not increase.

“We should not pay unearned money,” he said, according to the government’s news agency BelTA. “This should not be done at all, or else we will get back to what we began with two years ago. We should stimulate and encourage the heads of private and state-owned enterprises to do their best for us to get closer to the $500 level.”

While speaking at the Fourth All-Belarusian People’s Assembly held in December 2010 shortly before a presidential election, Mr. Lukashenka promised that average monthly pay in the country would reach $1,000 in 2015, but it actually fell from $530 in December 2010 to $370 in 2015, according to the National Statistical Committee.

Pre-tax monthly pay in Belarus reportedly averaged out at 732.9 rubels (about $380) in September 2016.