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“To Work Hard for a Penny When Retired? It’s Not Our Story, Sorry”

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“To Work Hard for a Penny When Retired? It’s Not Our Story, Sorry”

Belarus needs an urgent moratorium on the retirement age increase.

"Our pension system began to signal "SOS" 20 years ago". Then we should have started major reforms. But officials were idle and only now, when the pension fund is no longer properly replenished, they came up with the most primitive methods. However, as always. There is a need for a fundamental reform, as that carried out in the Baltic States. Decisions on the retirement age increase are both out of place and time", this is how the former Minister of Labor Aliaksandr Sasnou assessed the next retirement age increase in Belarus.

Indeed, the retirement age is one of the most acute issues in our country.

Recently, the portal Udobny Gorod has begun to collect signatures "For Decline of Retirement Age for Men"; its authors ask the Ministry of Labor to consider the possibility to return the retirement age for men to 60 years.

Charter97.org asked to comment a well-known businessman and blogger Viktar Harbachou on this initiative.

- I would not classify problems into male and female ones. The divide and govern principle comes from the evil one. I am outraged that the pension law is changed without the people's will. After all, it is utter darkness.

One should somehow take life expectancy into account. The economy is the economy, but today 'do no harm' principle should come first. Our country needs an urgent moratorium on the retirement age increase.

Then we can lower it, turn to the previous legislation and revise it. In general, I support this petition. It's the right step, which corresponds to common sense and statistics.

- How could it happen that every fourth Belarusian man does not live to the retirement age?

- Men have a great burden: to support their families, to endure all stresses on the move. Poor medicine and our irresponsibility. Often men just don't want to pass medical examination. Let's remember smoking, alcohol, where Belarusians are the absolute leaders.

Consequences of Chernobyl also influence.

But I would call working conditions the major problem. Belarusian enterprises, to put it mildly, avoid progress. Things made by robots and equipment in other countries for a long time are made by people here. It's a physical and slave labor, that's it. The workload is very high. The "country for life" has no mercy on people.

- Besides, the pension of the Belarusians is one of the smallest among our neighbors...

- This is a separate topic. Of course, pensions vary. I do not think that former officials have the same pensions as factory workers.

By the way, that's why Belarusians live so little. A person retires, receives a penny, but children also need support.

In Europe, pensions mean the best time. You take care of yourself, travel or take care of a garden. Our pensioners are looking for a penny to earn.

- Lukashenka has a different opinion. He once said that "a man of 60 years old is a horse to plough on".

- If he considers himself a horse, let him plough. And to work hard for three kopecks - not our story. Another option - Lukashenka is judging by his entourage. I think there are a lot of people among residents of Drazdy who look great at the age of 60: good medicine, easy work, a luxurious life. He looks at Miasnikovich - a healthy man, a red nose - can still work. Anfimava and Prakapovich are over 70, and they are still in good health. It's the mirror-world, detachment from reality.

Plus, there is certain entourage Lukashenka is kept within. Real collective farmers are hidden from Lukashenka, he watches a show of bootlickers.

If he is sent to workers, who spend their long hours at work, I don't think he would remember about horses. Lukashenka became the enemy No. 1 for pensioners.

- What is the optimal retirement age for Belarusians?

- I think it is 60 years for men, 57-58 years for women. Yes, it is higher in some countries, and the authorities will point at it. But working conditions, health care level and food quality differ here and there. That's the point.

I think that a person, who is going to be a presidential candidate from democratic forces, should present a strong program on the pension legislation, neglected by Aliaksandr Ryhoravich. The revision of the pension legislation and the return of the previous one, or its revision should be one of the first items of the program. In addition, the abolition of the law on "parasites". People of labor should receive their pensions back.

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