Universities Graduates Agree To Post-Graduate Work Assignment With $150 Salary In Crisis

This year’s post-graduate work assignment looks rather complicated, there are not enough applications from enterprises to grant a work placement to every graduate.

Still, enterprises do hire graduates. “Homselmash”, which manufactured 146 harvesters last year, is hiring 100 uni graduates at a time. For comparison, a year ago this enterprise manufactured five times more production, Euroradio reports.

“We have ordered out of the people who undertook an internship at our plant. There are nearly a hundred staff, constructors, technologists. A young specialist can count upon an average salary of Br 3 million ($150), with a possible rise in the future,” — “Homselmash” outlines the perspectives. 138 harvesters are staying at the warehouses of the enterprise now.

The Minsk ball bearing plant is taking 22 graduates in the framework of the post-graduate work assignment system. They promise a full-week working schedule, although trade unions reported that a part of workers had been transferred to part-time working week last December.

“I don’t exactly like the Br 3-million salary, but I haven’t looked for some other job,” — the Economic University graduate tells about her post-graduate work assignment workplace. She is working at “Belvar” and has no plans for changing the job. Her friend hasn’t been hired to the same enterprise already this year.

Graduate of the Technological University Mikhail is going to work in the framework of the post-graduate assignment at some forestry near Vitsebsk, he will work as an accountant. He is willing to earn Br 3,5 million on the periphery as “there are no jobs at all”.

“We haven’t discussed conditions much yet. They offered salaries ranging from Br 3,5 million to 3,7 million. Now it is difficult to find a job as an accountant if you have no work experience,” — Mikhail says.

Before each admission to the university, a special commission decides what specialists will be demanded in five years, after the graduation. However, it is hardly possible to provide a precise prognosis for five years, says First Deputy Minister of Education Vadzim Bohush. He advises the students to obtain additional education.

“The practice shows that the specialists with a higher educational level adapt to the labour market better. Specialties connected with electronic engineering, informational technologies, biotechnologies are demanded at the moment,” — Bohush thinks.

This year’s admission has resulted in shortening of specialties like builders, metallurgists and casters. However, there have become more medical and IT specialties.

Charter97.org informed before that the universities would shorten the number of budget places again this year – 100 students less would have an opportunity for a free education.