Repeal of benefits will affect 5 millions of Belarusians

The meeting with the participation of the Belarusian head of state on the problems of personal social aid was delayed for two times. What was the reason that the discussion of that important issue at highest level was postponed and what will be the consequences of the delay of the social aid issue?

“Though the authorities say the interests of disadvantage groups – pensioners, handicapped, and students are protected, there are probably some holes. The budget doesn’t allow people to be as optimistic as the government members are”, Aliaksandr Yarashuk, head of Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions, said his point of view to “Zavtra Tvoyei Strany”.

In Yarashuk’s view, it is not so easy to find the sources of material embodiment of such statements. As it is known, the repeal of benefits will bring additional Br 150-160 bln to the budget, but it is planned to give only Br 60 bln for personal social aide. “It is all clear about saving, but probably, the problems have appeared with the reassignment of funds”, Aliaksandr Yarashuk supposes.

“There is no common opinion in the leadership on how to get over the consequences of adopting the law on privilege cancel. They haven’t worked out a plan of activities on minimization of the law consequences. There is no necessary document which could decrease the degree of people’s indignation and deceive the people”, Aliaksandr Bukhvostau, leader of banned by the authorities the Belarusian Party of Labour says.

Form the other hand, in Aliaksandr Bukhvostau’s opinion, the state has no resources for personal social aid. “The social policy is getting to fail, and the fact, that the privileges have been cancelled, shows the anti-social character of the state. Not only privileges were affected, but also guaranties provided by the Constitution, including proper retirement insurance”, the politician says.

The law on repeal of benefits is to come into force 17 December. But the experts from “Zavtra Tvoyei Strany” think, the people won’t feel its consequences at once.

In Yarashuk’s opinion, the social disturbances and strengthening of social tension won’t become notable in the society at once. “The authorities will try to solve the biggest problems, the interests of the less disadvantage groups will be taken into account at some degree. The society hasn’t such power that can provoke serious disaffection, threatening the destabilization of the situation”, the trade union leader supposes.

From the other hand, “the worsening of the economic situation and appearance of the economic difficulties are vivid. We can say that this power will be formed. But it’s yet difficult to say when it will happen”, Aliaksandr Yarashuk says.

In Aliaksandr Bukhvostau’s opinion, “the consequences of this law adoption will affect 5 mln of people in the country: students, pensioners, handicapped and other social groups will have harder living conditions. As a result, a base of social protest and negative attitude towards the authorities will broaden”, the politician thinks.