Enterprises stop. MAZ moves to move to a shortened work week

Many production units of Minsk automobile plant (MAZ) move to a four-day week. The enterprise has huge difficulties with sales of products. Plants and factories all over the country face the same problems, trade unions inform.

“The situation is the following. Production units and industries related to production of parts for automobiles and dump trucks, have problems and are stopped. Buses production still works. Many production units have been already moved to a four-day week. The situation is very difficult. The Russian market has almost stopped buying cars. You can go to the buildings of plants and see that the number of vehicles standing around Minsk tractor building plant, MAZ is increasing,” the leader of the trade union of Automotive and Agricultural Machinery Workers Alyaksandr Bukhvostau said to the Charter’97 press-centre.

As said by the trade union leader, the situation at Hrodna Cardan Shaft Plant “Belkard” which has lost the Russian market and “has almost stopped work”. The state of Rahachou enterprise “Dioproektor” is in a lamentable situation too. Babrujsk plant of wooden fiber boards has shut down since November 17. The management of the plant says the reason is the global financial crisis and difficulties with sales.

Recently reports have appeared that Zhodzina-based enterprise BelAZ has moved to the four-day week too. But this information hasn’t been confirmed by the trade union leader yet.

“There are reports that BelAZ is being prepared for transformation into a joint-stock company as a matter of urgency. It looks as if this tempting part of Belarusian industry is to be sold among the first ones. But these reports should be verified,” Bukhvostau said.

Earlier there were reports that some plants suspend work for a few days, like in the beginning of the 1990ies. Enterprises in small towns like Barysau have especially hard time. Meanwhile BATE, Avtogidrousilitel, Rezinotekhnika discontinue work.

Workers of giant enterprises start to panic too. Workers at Minsk tractor plant are fired for violations of discipline without further parley, though earlier the situation was different. Workers of the tractor plant have been warned already that after the New Year wages and number of workers would be cut down.

Industrial enterprises in the regions have to deny to their employees financial assistance and bonuses which are stipulate by the collective treaty.