Henadz Fiadynich: Real Wages Are of 250 Rubles in the Regions

The authorities hide unwanted information.

Belstat has counted the number of laid-off employees over 9 months this year. 552 thousand employees are dismissed, and the number of reemployed is 38.3 thousand less. These are huge numbers. It turns out that a small town is left without jobs.

In addition, Belstat data has some peculiarities. To learn the truth, one should often multiply by ten. The leader of the REP Trade Union (Radio and Electronic Industry) tells Charter97.org about a current situation:

- Many enterprises go bankrupt and, unfortunately, it will continue. It is the reason for mass lay-offs. Our economy is not able to ensure jobs.

There are people who quit; some people leave abroad. Let's be honest, there is no work in Belarus. When we start going into vacancies, we can see that real wages in the regions are around 250 rubles. If there are vacancies of 400 rubles, people strive to get them.

I consider lack of motivation of well-educated employees as a problem. Just look at our metal industry, our plants. The young do not work there. It's a hard work for small money. That's why lay-offs and cuts will continue.

- Everyone knows that Belstat data does not reflect the real situation; in addition, there are enterprises where people work only several hours. How could you describe the real employment in our country?

- Statistics is quite deceiving. There are enterprises with only four working hours, and 12 hours. But an average number of working hours is eight. Belstat figures are not reliable. They are deceiving. And it's true. In addition, some part of unwanted information is hidden.

You have mentioned half-time weeks. I believe if the situation is like this, people should be let go home and paid money. There are examples when people are forced to unpaid leaves. People do not earn money.

Economic laws are simple: to produce, to sell, to raise money. One should be competitive on the market, and our enterprises, with few exceptions, have nothing to boast of.

Yes, we have Belaruskali, Novopolotsk and Mozyr refineries, but even they suffer decline in average wages. I would also like the government to remember that there are statistics, a Ph.D. thesis, and the truth. and the truth is that real wages drastically differ from statistics provided.

- The government announces "a new industrial development", industrial development. Meanwhile, the industrial sphere suffers greatest cuts. What could you say about it?

- It's true. The industrial sphere suffers severe problems, but I would also mentioned the Communal and Housing Service (CHS). The paradox is that the number of bosses does not change, and the number of employees reduces. It turns out that one beats the bush, and seven others catch the bird. If they had been good managers who attract investments from abroad. But we do not have competitiveness here; nepotism blooms in the regions. Local minor officials turn up noses.

It's a great problem in our country. And this snowball will grow unless budget money runs dry.

What is the reason for a hole in the Social Security Fund? A great number of Belarusians have left abroad and do not make deductions to the Security Fund. Everything is interdependent in the economy. People may be deceived but the economy may not.

- Only in 2017, 52 thousand Belarusians have received resident permits in the EU countries. Dozens or even hundreds of thousands of employees work abroad. When we speak of Russia, the figure of 500 thousand is voiced. Does it mean that millions of Belarusians have migrated?

- The statistics is really disappointing. But it is real. The best specialists leave. People who can work. And many of them do not want to return home.

Lukashenka has recently stated that Belarusians living abroad will be afterthoughts. I have already told that it's impolite. How does he treat people in the regions who earn 250 rubles?

People would not have gone abroad, if they had had a decent salary here. I believe that in absence of economic reforms and motivation (at least equal salaries to Poland and Russia), people will keep migrating. Especially the young, because they want to get everything at once.

- What specific steps would you offer to tackle with the situation which is a catastrophe?

- Our country needs a strict system, when a person is certain about the future. Needs of people should be met, but not ignored until the election campaign. The government, stop taking away, it's time to collect stones and give back. Our people are hard-working, they have to leave because of despair.

You can dismiss people, close enterprises, but let's carry out economic reforms. But the authorities are afraid of reforms which may undermine the regime.

The issue is open; the time will come and we will learn the truth about the economy. Today our enterprises have huge debts they are not able to repay. That's why reforms are required. If they are ignored, it may be too late.