Lukashenka shot down his promise about salaries

“We should gradually incline Belarusians to think that the state will help, but it’s better to count on oneself,” the ruler stated.

The unnerving forecast of salaries’ growth prospects was made by Lukashenka during his meeting with members of the Council of the “chamber of representatives”, “Solidarnosts” writes.

Like you, I am extremely interested that the population is supported. But publically, and sometimes in a harsh manner, I attract attention to the fact that the state is not created for feeding someone who does not want to work for oneself, – Lukashenka stated. “Our people can live good, those who want it. Belarusians should be gradually inclined to think that the state will help, but it’s better to count on oneself.

The ruler told why in the current situation one should not expect considerable growth of salaries, and who is to blame for that, to his mind:

- One should bear in mind that now we are going through a bad stretch in connection with a protracted economic crisis. It is not even a crisis – certain states are pressing the whole world in order to solve certain problems.

It is surely hard to resist. We should adapt and survive in this situation. So we cannot speak about massive salary increase today. We should live through this period quietly. We are trying to help our people in this aspect a little at a time though.

This confession stands in a stark contract with the promises he gave earlier. He promised an average salary of $1000 for the first time back in 2008.

- A salary equivalent to 500 dollars would not satisfy us anymore, and in this five-year period we should reach a level of $700, and possibly come near $1000.

It should be stressed that an average salary was to reach these figures back in 2010. But then citizens received just new promises instead of money. The pay size in Belarus in 2015 is to be close to $1000 in the equivalent, Alyaksandr Lukashenka noted at the 4th All-Belarusian People’s Assembly.

Though, long ago independent experts started to speak about the absence of necessary resources of the authorities for such a considerable pay rise. And now probably it’s Lukashenka’s turn to admit the obvious thing. Saying that “a massive salary increase today” is out of the question, the leader of the state in fact shot down his promise of $1000 salary.