Wages In Belarus To Fall To $200

Income of Belarusians has been shrinking for the third month in a row.

According to the National Statistics Committee (Bestat), in October employees receive by average Br200 thousand less than in July in average.

As said by Belstat, on an average people earn a little less than Br7 million. And notably, while a nominal wage in Minsk remains almost at the level of the last year, in the regions the average wage does not reach even Br6 million, Belsat TV channel reports.

“I could say judging by myself, my friends, relatives and so on, that figures differ by a huge ratio. As the situation is deteriorating, some people do not have revenues at all, some people’s income is falling, and quite considerably,” – a man said.

“It is by about 20%. Now we are not paid wages, everyone is searching,” – a passer-by complains.

“My son works for a construction organisation, and his wages have fallen by 50%, or even a little more,” – a dweller of Mahiliou added.

“Previously people received wages, at some enterprises they got Br9 million, Br12 million, and now – Br4 million, as far as I know,” – a woman is indignant.

Independent trade unions state – for fear of unrest, the authorities are maintaining full working week for Minsk enterprises due to credit assistance. Besides, flagship plants in Minsk chronically fail to pay to regional plants for spare parts. Or they delay payments for many months. Regional employers consequently have to send their workers to unpaid leaves – at 2/3 of wages and without bonuses.

“MAZ is probably an exception now, and maybe the tractor plant, but we know that they received considerable assistance in summer. And now they can work thanks to this assistance, but the essence of this assistance is that they obviously producing to stock,” – Aliaksandr Yarashuk, Chairman of the Democratic Trade Union Congress, explained.

Meanwhile, in terms of the today’s exchange rate, the average wages in Belarus in October is $380, which is by one third less than a year ago. “Most likely, we could predict that wages are going to fall to $300, and in a year or two, even to $200,” – Aliaksandr Yarashuk added.

The authorities urge Belarusians not to count their income in dollars, as devaluation of the ruble is not important when prices in the country are growing slowly. But in autumn the inflation of food products, which had been kept under control before the elections, started to catch up with devaluation. Over the last two months a side of bacon in Evroopt shop got up by 20%, cheese – by one fourth, carrot – by half, and cucumbers –more than threefold. Independent trade unions state that the efforts of the authorities are aimed at soft-pedalling the economic collapse, instead of laying foundation for economic recovery by reforms. With such a policy a gradual dropping in the living standards is to continue for many years ahead.