Worker of Minsk Tractor Plant: We are ordered to take at least one unpaid day off a month

Today is a day off at the Minsk Tractor Plant.

A reader of charter97.org says what topics were discussed at a meeting of the plant's managers.

“Workshop supervisors and heads of departments had a meeting last week. They received an oral order of deputy general director Aliaksandr Paturayeu. He ordered that every member of the engineering staff, including their chiefs, should take at least one unpaid day off this month. They fear to say it to ordinary workers, but engineers can face sanctions from their chief. They can be deprived of bonuses or their salaries can be cut.

We already have two additional days off in March. One working day was postponed until December, the other was declared idle time,” the reader wrote.

An officer on duty at the Minsk Tractor Plant told charter97org that no one can comment on the situation as the plant has a day off.

Many Belarusian companies have problems with paying wages. There have been reports in the last few months about four- and three-day working weeks, failure to pay wages in full, a decrease in wages and forced unpaid leaves.

The number of workers at Belarusians plants and factories has reduced by more than 10,000 people. The largest layoffs hit such giants as Atlant plant, the Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ), the Minsk Motor Plant and Barysau-based Avtogidrousilitel plant. As many as 1184 violations of labour legislation were found as a result of checks in 173 companies.