Henadz Fiadynich: Workers are partially “social parasites” now

The authorities should think how to tackle the deep economic crisis instead of signing the decree on “social parasites”.

Henadz Fiadynich, the leader of the Electronics Trade Union, comments on Ordinance No. 3 “On preventing freeloading practices” that was signed by Aliaksandr Lukashenka on April 2.

The ordinance obliges citizens of the Republic of Belarus, foreign nationals permanently residing in the country and stateless persons who did not participate in the financing of public spending or took part in this financing during a period of less than 183 calendar days in the expired year to pay a fee in the size of 20 basic amounts.

“It's obvious that the ordinance was lobbied by someone. Lukashenka couldn't have come to the idea alone. Like the ordinance on the wood processing industry, the ordinance on social parasites won't work. I think they will find two or three people and organise a show trial. We need to think how to overcome the deep economic crisis instead of looking for spongers. Such initiatives of the authorities only make people angry. Workers, who don't work full shifts now, are partially social parasites. This initiative is wrong and appears at wrong time,” Henadz Fiadynich stresses.

The leader of the Electronics Trade Union thinks Belarusians will find a loophole to avoid sanctions:

“If the ordinance on the wood processing industry hit 5-7 plants, the ordinance on social parasites hits the entire country. People will find a loophole and a formal job in the country without a retraining system and an unemployment benefit of $8-10. If the state does not have a retraining system and a system of creating new jobs with decent wages, how can we speak about social parasitism?”

Many Belarusian plants began to work shorter weeks or even stopped due to the economic crisis. As a result, many workers are laid off, which makes them “social parasites”.

“I think the ordinance won't hit workers. An attempt to turn a worker into a 'sponger' is very dangerous, and the authorities understand it. The most probable target of the ordinance is the Belarusians who work abroad, in Russia, who are wealthy enough to pay the fine.

Anyway, the ordinance on social parasitism won't raise respect for or confidence in the authorities,” Henadz Fiadynich said.