There should not be the wage less than $200 in equivalent in organizations of public sector. It was stated on August 25 by Prime Minister of Belarus, Sergei Sidorsky, at a meeting with activists of the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus. Prime Minister said that by the end of the year, average salary in the country will be increased to $500 in equivalent, to $410 in equivalent in the public sector.
«The government has developed a proposal to raise wages in the public sector and sent it to be studied by the president», Sergei Sidorsky stressed, BelTA informs.
Wages increase is expected to be realized in two stages. At the first stage (from September 1), it is planned to increase tariff rates of salaries for low-paid group of workers by changing corrective factors. Thus, from September 1, it is proposed to increase tariff rates of salaries for young professionals. who are sent to work in budgetary institutions, for teaching staff (excluding faculty), doctors of budgetary organizations, employees of social services, cultural and educational institutions.
At the second stage (from November 1), it is planned to increase first-class rate to support all public sector employees, Belarusian Premier reported.
Speaking on the sources of wage increase, Sergei Sidorsky explained: «It will be done not through directives, we will not destroy the economy, we will do our best to make our enterprises reach the level of wages at the expense of internal reserves». For example, only the reduction of expenses, intensity of use by 1-2% in the Ministry of Industry provides salary increase of 20% to 40%, Prime Minister of Belarus noted.
Sergei Sidorsky also recalled that during current crisis, many liberal economics reduced salaries. «We can not get the situation when we reassure our people, give salary, and then will reduce it. It is not to be in the country. It’s absolutely unacceptable», Sergei Sidorsky stressed.
FTB should play an active role in promoting cooperation with ILO, Sidorsky
Furthermore, Belarusian Prime Minister also noted that the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus should play more active role in promoting cooperation with the International Labour Organization. «We would like the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus to play more active role in solving the problem of cooperation between our country and the International Labour Organization», Prime Minister said.
Over last decade, the government of Belarus has conducted complicated dialogue with the ILO on the imposed issue of compliance with trade union rights in our country, Sergei Sidorsky said. In recent years, Belarus managed to achieve more unbiassed ILO’s attitude on this issue. However, the problem is not completely solved, there is still the main goal pending: the EU has not restored customs preferences under the UE Generalized System of Preferences for Belarus, suspended in 2007, Prime Minister noted.
«Today, when supplying our products we pay taxes from 5% to 15%, depending on the item. So, we are being pressurized on external market, and our product become uncompetitive», Prime Minister said, adding that «our main opponents in solving the issue are in the sphere of international trade union movement».
According to Sergei Sidorsky, the FTB would more aggressively use its authority, its relations with international and national trade union centers in order to influence the negotiation process and assist the government of Belarus in the final withdrawal of claims by the ILO.
