Belarus Turning Into Country Of Working Pensioners

According to the official statistics, 25% Belarusians remain at their workplaces after retirement.

These figures are especially big in the spheres of education and public service.

“The pension is way too small. One needs to work for as long as possible” – this appears the decision that hundreds of thousands Belarusians take. They do not want to leave also because of the unwillingness to quit the social life thus becoming lonely, but the economic reasons come first, Belsat reports.

“I am so happy I work, – pensioner Nina Sotsina says. – Today’s life seems very complicated, the prices are so high, one comes over to a store, takes a look, takes a walk around and leaves.”

Nina Sotsina has worked as a proofreader in the newspaper “Narodnaya Volya” for over 20 years. Thanks to her job and salary she has an opportunity to help her son raise her grandchild. Mrs. Sotsina says that she would have felt very lonely in her apartment without work.

“I work with people, we have a very friendly collective, I meet young people and this gives me lots of energy,” – Mrs. Nina says.

According to the information provided by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, every fourth pensioner preserves their labour activity – this is more than 665 thousand people out of the total number of over 2,5 million. Herein, this index grew approximately by 15 thousand in a year.

It is notable that women make a twice bigger number among the working pensioners than men.

It was unofficially reported by the media this autumn that the pensions of those who continue working might be reduced by 40%. The Ministry of Labour claims that no such measures are planned. At present, the limitations in payments concern those working pensioners who used to have high salaries in the past, with the coefficient exceeding 1,3.

“A pensioner who works still pays all the taxes. However, neither taxes nor duration of employment are taken into account any longer,” – Chairperson of the public association of pensioners “Our Generation” Tatsiana Zialko says.

The economists think that the Belarusian pension system remains one of the most ineffective in the world, and requires drastic changes.

“Those who work pay the pensions. The people who work now give money for no particular reason, they give money so the pensioners could live. This should be stopped. The pensions must be funded, you must have a capital,” — economist Leanid Zaika says.

Specialized pension funds allow to accumulate such capital. The authorities, however, declare no intention to transfer to such system, even at the background of the pessimistic prognosis with regard to ageing of the population. Meanwhile, Belarusians remain hostages of beggarly payments – the average pension in December made Bn 300.