Academics Give Up Monthly Wages for Library’s Sake :: Charter'97 :: News

Directors of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus recommended to its employees to sacrifice their monthly allowance for the sake of the National library construction project, reads the ruling “On organizing the public movement on money collection for the construction of the National library of Belarus”, passed by the Bureau of the National Academy’s Presidium.

Heads of the Academy propose to their staffers to present their free-will offerings either in parts throughout 2002-2003 period or in one deposit on the basis of personal agreements. Commenting on this decision, the vice-president of the National Academy of Sciences Anatoly Lesnikovich underscored that the transfer of means will be held exclusively on a voluntary basis. There will be passed no repressive measures against those who refuse, said the academician. In his view, passiveness of certain co-workers of his will be compensated by the rich deposits, invested into the project by some scientific and research organizations of theirs. By early October they have already transferred 5,5mln rubles for the purpose. Lesnikovich donated his personal salary back on September 26 during the assembly of the Academy’s Presidium, dedicated to the National library construction.