Yermakova: No one promises $500 wages

The chief of the National Bank of Belarus continues to repeat no devaluation is expected.

Zvyazda newspaper publishes a transcript of a phone-in session with Nadzezhda Yermakova, the Chairwoman of the Board of the National Bank of Belarus. She answered the most burning questions of people.

“Hello! I have a question that probably worries most people. I'd like to know if we will have devaluation in the nearest future. We've already heard about $500 wages several times. Everyone knows how it ended. Now these promises can be heard again,” a reader asked Yermakova.

“Firstly, no one promises $500 wages. The president set a task for the government and directors of enterprises to give the opportunity to earn this money. No one promises to give it for nothing. No one will receive the wages he or she doesn't earn,” she said.

The National Bank chief said no devaluation was expected. “We had a very serious devaluation last year. There are no preconditions to carry it out again. The inflation rate for eight months is 14.6%. The estimated inflation rate for 2012 is not higher than 22%. The inflation is expected to be 12% in 2013. We will not have reasons for devaluation. The wage of $500 is an order for the government and directors of enterprises to give people the opportunity to earn this wage.”

We remind that the Belarusian top officials denied the possibility of devaluation ahead of last year's crisis.