Saving Funds Thru Redundancy :: Charter'97 :: News

Total salary indebtedness for August-September constituted in the agricultural complex of the Maloritsky district (Brest region) 235,500 thousand rubles by Nov. 1. Out of 18 husbandries and organizations only one cleared its September debt before workers. Eight still have to pay August money. Leaders in terms of non-payment for two months are the collective farms “Zarya” – 37,359thsd rubles, “Maloritsky” – 36,732thsd rubles, “Novaya Zhisn” – 30,486thsd rubles, “Kirovs” – 28,693thsd. The situation in agriculture is frightening.

It may well happen that certain companies will never be able to cover their expenses. The problem is the low prices on agricultural products, which are way under the cost of gasoline and uniforms for workers. For instance, 1 liter of cheapest gas equals in price to 4 liters of milk. For this reason many husbandries suffer tremendous losses. One of the strongest farms in the district, which accumulated no salary indebtedness at all – “17th September” collective farm – produced this year more crops that at Soviet times. However, the profits from sales remain quite low.

Weaker farms incur colossal losses. The overall debt of the “Zarya” state husbandry equals 226mln. rubles, 132mln. of them – for energy supplies. In order to prevent further growth of indebtedness, the husbandry determined to minimize the energy consumption as much as possible. Now, even in the darkness of the night the village’s streets aren’t illuminated.

All agricultural companies have to economize a great deal. The workers are being sent away on holiday leaves under any pretext. Recently, the local officials even ruled to get rid of the “odd staff”. For example, in “Zarya” they will fire 22 folks. These are mostly the agronomists and foremen, who are in most cases season workers. Remains still unclear whether they will be dismissed until the start of the new sowing season or for an indefinite period of time.