Large numbers of Belarusians go abroad for work

Soon there will be no representatives of the working class left in Belarus, who are so necessary to realization of ambitious plans of the government to increase the GDP. The reason is banal: it’s the outflow of workers to the neighbouring countries where wages are higher.

In the near future the problem of workers is to become acute in the country, told the chairman of the Belarusian “Research and Production association” Mikalay Straltsou at the meeting of the Republican Council of Directors on June 17. As said by the first Vice Prime Minister of Belarus, industry is a “draught horse” of the Belarusian economy, “Belorusskiya novosti” writes.

The reason of the acute shortage of working hands is more than banal: it’s the outflow of workers to the neighbouring countries where wages are higher. It especially concerns builders, machine tool operators, locksmiths, electric and gas welders, who are in great demand abroad. “Our people go to Poland, the Baltic states, Russia, where such workers receive not only higher wages, but a good social package. And not only workers, but executives of different levels, engineers and technicians,” M. Straltsou is quoted by PRIME-TASS as saying.

Meanwhile, according to the draft economy development estimate for the year 2009 and 2010 which was corrected by the decree No.818 of the Belarusian government, actual wages is to grow by 16-17% in 2009, and by 13-15% in 2010, while actual population income by 14-15% and 11-13% respectively.

But even such tempos (which are unlikely to be achieved thought) are apparently not enough for Belarusians to receive $1,000 by the end of the five-year period, as demanded by Lukashenka.

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