There is an increase in the number of low-income families in Belarus. At the end of last year, the real disposable income of the country's population decreased by 7.3 percent compared to 2015. The journalists of the "News of Belarus" section of the "Birzhevoy Leader" publication learned more about the growth in the number of low-income families in Belarus.
The incomes of the population of Belarus, as noted by the publication "Belorusskiye Novosti", since 2015, have only been decreasing. According to a sample survey of households by living standards conducted by Belstat in the 4th quarter of 2016, 4.4 percent of Belarusian families are classified as low-income families. In the third quarter of last year, 4.1 percent of all Belarusian families belonged to this category, while in the first half of the year - 3.9 percent.
Meanwhile, earlier, starting in 2005, the share of low-income families in the country decreased, having decreased in 2010 from 12.7 to 5.2 percent. In 2011, it grew to 7.3 percent, after which it began to decline again, declining in 2014 to 4.8 percent. Meanwhile, at the end of 2016, the share of low-income families in Belarus amounted to 5.7 percent.
At the same time, in the 4th quarter of 2016, the largest number of the poor was in the Gomel and Brest regions - 6.2 and 6 percent, respectively. In the Mogilev region, the share of such families was 5.4 percent, in the Vitebsk region - 4.9 percent, in the Minsk region - 4.4 percent, and in the Grodno region - 3.4 percent. The least poor families are in the Belarusian capital, where their share is 1.4 percent.
It should be reminded that in Belarus the poverty threshold is determined by the BPM - the subsistence minimum budget. In the period from February 1 to April 30 of this year, this indicator will be 180.1 rubles per capita. According to the calculations of the Belarusian government, this money should be enough for citizens to purchase a minimum set of food and non-food items, as well as to pay for necessary services.
The state provides targeted social assistance to persons whose income is lower than the BPM. At the end of last year, 75 140 Belarusians received such assistance in the form of monthly support. At the same time, 43,982 more Belarusians received assistance from the state in the form of a one-time payment. Compensation for purchased diapers was paid to 119 696 citizens, and for purchased means of technical rehabilitation - 24 451 people. The state provided food for children under 2 years of age to 27,172 people. In total, 290,441 people received state targeted social assistance. If we consider the situation by region, then most of the recipients of social assistance live in the Gomel, Mogilev and Brest regions. At the same time, the number of recipients for the year increased by more than 39 thousand people.
Most of the Belarusian families live on less than 500 rubles per person.
Currently, most of the families in Belarus live on less than 500 rubles per person. However, families that do not belong to the category of the poor are also not chic, and live quite modestly. Belstat calculated the disposable resources of Belarusian households, including the cost of consumed food products that were produced in the household, as well as funds received in the form of various payments and benefits provided to citizens. As a result, it turned out that last year disposable resources per household in Belarus amounted to 962.3 rubles per month. Cash expenditures per household amounted, according to the estimates of the statistical department, to 906.3 rubles per month, of which 677.7 rubles (74.8 percent) fell on consumer spending.
According to Anton Boltochko, economic expert of the Liberal Club, in the current social and economic situation, it is necessary to take measures aimed at supporting the most vulnerable segments of the country's population, as well as creating new jobs. The expert explained that today's protests in Belarus are one of the components of the country's population's discontent. At the same time, labor migration is a reflection of citizens' dissatisfaction with the conditions that exist in Belarus for workers today.
To change the situation for the better, Boltochko proposes to revise the conditions under which the state currently provides targeted social assistance. In addition, the authorities should also increase the amount of unemployment benefits, while the period for receiving them should be limited to 6 months. The expert explained that funds for the payment of benefits to the unemployed can be found from the amounts that are currently allocated to support state-owned enterprises.
In addition, today, when not the most positive changes are observed in the sphere of living conditions of Belarusian citizens, the authorities should really take on the implementation of the previously announced plans to create new jobs with high wages in the country. The whole question here lies in the approaches used by the state. So far, the authorities have no desire to change the conditions for doing business, which in most cases is precisely the source of new jobs that employ highly skilled labor and offer staff training. The country needs to develop self-employment, give people the opportunity to earn money and not pressure entrepreneurs with various legislative acts.
Hello. My child and I receive 2 survivors' pensions (for myself and for the child). Tell me if I am eligible for any benefits? (Elena Goncharenko)
Tell me, please, my husband does not work, he receives an allowance of 350 thousand. At work, they transfer me part-time with a salary of 3 million rubles. What benefits from the state can we count on ? (Elena Temnikova)
The main criterion for recognizing citizens (families) as low-income is the subsistence level budget. Citizens (families) recognized as low-income have the right to state social assistance (Article 6 of the Law of January 6, 1999, No. 239-З "On the living wage in the Republic of Belarus").
Low-income citizens (families) are citizens (families) who, for objective reasons, have an average per capita income below the subsistence level budget (Article 1 of Law No. 239-З).
The average cost of living budget per capita in the period from 02/01/2016 to 04/30/2016 was set at 1 million 591 thousand 310 rubles.
According to paragraphs 3, 4 of the Regulation on the procedure for recording income and calculating the average per capita income of a family (citizen) for the provision of state targeted social assistance, the average per capita income of a family (citizen) is determined based on the income received by family members (a citizen) during the 12 months preceding the month of treatment for such assistance, with the exception of families (citizens) in which a family member (citizen) is dismissed from work (service) in connection with the liquidation of an organization, the termination of the activities of an individual entrepreneur, notary, a lawyer carrying out advocacy individually, a reduction in the number or staff of employees, calculated for three months preceding the month of applying for state targeted social assistance.
For a family, the average per capita income is determined by dividing the sum of the income of all family members by 12 (three) months (months) and then dividing by the number of family members included in it.
State social assistance is provided in the form of monthly and (or) one-time social benefits for the purchase of food, medicines, clothing, footwear, school supplies and other needs to ensure normal life, as well as to pay (in whole or in part) for housing and utilities and (or) payments for the use of residential premises of the state housing stock; social benefits to reimburse the cost of purchasing diapers; social benefits to pay for technical means of social rehabilitation; providing food for children of the first two years of life (clause 1 of the decree No. 41 of January 19, 2012 "On state targeted social assistance").
Reasons for refusal to provide state targeted social assistance may be the ownership of more than one dwelling (apartment, residential building), education on a paid basis, and a number of others.
Low-income citizens (families) may be provided with other benefits provided for by housing, tax and other types of legislation. It depends on the presence of additional signs: large families, disability, retirement, etc.
Widows are provided with a standard tax deduction of 460,000 Belarusian rubles per month for each child under 18 and / or each dependent (Article 164 of the Tax Code of the Republic of Belarus). Persons who are provided with a survivor's pension are provided with a number of state fee benefits when going to court, when performing notarial acts, etc. (Article 257 of the Tax Code).
Additional measures of social protection are provided for family members of those killed (deceased) in the performance of military (official) duties: obtaining preferential loans, one-time subsidies for construction (reconstruction) or purchase of residential premises, extraordinary provision of residential premises for social use of public housing stock and a number of others (Art . 22, 23 of the Law of the Republic of Belarus No. 1594-XII of April 17, 1992 "On Veterans").
The answer was prepared by a lawyer, human rights activist Oleg Matskevich.
Materials (edit)
In 2016, the real disposable money income of the population of Belarus decreased by 7.3% compared to 2015. The number of low-income families is growing again in the country
The income of the population has been decreasing since 2015. In January 2016, the decrease was 5.4% against January 2015, in January-February against the same period of the previous year - 6.4%, January-March - 6.5%, January-April - 6.8%, January- May, January-June and January-July - 7%, January-August - 7.1%, January-September - 7.2%, January-October - 7.3%, January-November - 7.5%, for 2016 - by 7.3%.
According to a sample survey of households by living standards conducted by Belstat, in the fourth quarter of 2016, 4.4% of families belonged to low-income families. In the third quarter, such families were 4.1%, in the first half of the year - 3.9%.
The share of low-income families decreased from 2005 (12.7%) to 2010 (5.2%), having sharply increased in 2011 to 7.3%. Then the share of the poor declined until 2014, when it was 4.8%. At the end of 2016, the share of the poor increased to 5.7%.
Poverty level of the population
according to the data of a sample survey of households by living standards; as a percentage of the total population
According to the results of the last quarter of last year, the largest number of the poor was in the Gomel (6.2%) and Brest (6%) regions. In the Mogilev region - 5.4%, Vitebsk - 4.9%, Minsk - 4.4%, Grodno - 3.4%. Least of all the poor are in Minsk - 1.4%.
The Belarusian poverty line is determined by the subsistence minimum budget (SBL), which from February 1 to April 30, 2017 averages 180.1 rubles per capita. This money, according to the government's calculations, should be enough for a minimum set of products, as well as non-food products and services.
People whose income is less than the minimum are provided with state targeted social assistance (GASP) - in the amount that is not enough before the BPM.
In 2016, assistance was provided in the form of monthly support to 75 140 needy people, and in the form of one-time support to 43 982. Another 119 696 people received compensation for purchased diapers, 24 451 - for technical rehabilitation means, and 27 172 children under two years old were provided with food ...
Most of all GASP was assigned to residents of Gomel, Mogilev and Brest regions. In total, 290,441 people received GASP.
Over the year, the number of beneficiaries of assistance increased by more than 39 thousand people - in 2015, 251.2 thousand people became its recipients, and in 2014 - 217.8 thousand people.
Most families live on less than 500 rubles per person
Many Belarusians, who are not among the poor, also do not show off and live on very modest means.
Belstat has calculated the disposable resources of households, including the value of consumed food products produced on personal subsidiary plots, as well as received in the form of various benefits and payments. It turned out that in 2016 disposable resources per household amounted to 962.3 rubles per month (in 2015 - 910).
Cash expenditures per household amounted to 906.3 rubles per month, of which 677.7 rubles, or 74.8%, accounted for consumer spending.
Most of the population (78.5%) lives for 500 rubles or less per month per person. Including 16.5% - for 400-500 rubles a month, 12.5% - for 350-400, another 15.6% - for 300-350 rubles.
3.1% of the population had less than 150 rubles per capita disposable resources per month in the fourth quarter of last year, 150-200 rubles - 7%, 200-250 - 11%, 250-300 - 12.8% (12.7%). 9% have 500-600 rubles per person, more than 600 rubles - 12.5%.
Where is the way out of poverty?
In the current economic and social situation in Belarus, it is necessary to take measures to support vulnerable segments of the population and create new jobs, noted in a comment for site economic expert of the "Liberal Club" Anton Boltochko.
In his opinion, protests in the streets are one of the components of people's dissatisfaction, labor migration is also a reflection of dissatisfaction with the conditions that Belarus has for workers.
Boltochko considers it necessary to revise the conditions for the provision of state targeted social assistance, as well as to increase the amount of unemployment benefits, limiting the period of its receipt to six months.
The actual unemployment rate in Belarus in 2016 was 5.8% of the economically active population, and this is. The labor exchange costs almost five times less.
“Funds for the payment of benefits can be found from the amounts that go to support state-owned enterprises. It's time to understand that state-owned enterprises are about money, and not about social support in the form of partial wages ", - said Boltochko.
The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection has already submitted to the government a proposal to insure citizens against unemployment.
“In our proposal, we recommend developing an insurance system according to a market model, where a person receives a high unemployment benefit. Within six months, those who find themselves out of work will be able to count on payments in the amount of 60% of their average salary at the last job ", - said in an interview with the newspaper "Respublika" Head of the Employment Policy Department of the Ministry of Labor Oleg Tokun.
The insurance fund to support the unemployed, according to the ministry's plan, can be formed within the framework of the existing Social Protection Fund without creating a separate structure.
Payments for unemployment insurance, as well as for social insurance, are supposed to be made mandatory, but it will be possible to receive benefits only after registering with the employment service as unemployed.
“We calculated that the monthly contribution should be 0.5% of the wages fund. At the same time, we propose to pay this amount equally - to both the employer and the employee. That is, instead of 1% in the Social Security Fund, an employee will have to pay 1.25%. It seems to me that this is an insignificant increase, given that a person receives real protection from unemployment. And the employers, I think, will not mind either, since this will relieve them of a certain burden of social responsibility for the dismissed workers. "- explained Tokun.
Do not push the business - there will be new jobs
According to Anton Boltochko, at the present time, when there is not the most favorable trend in terms of changes in the living conditions of people, it is time for the authorities to really take for the implementation of more than once announced plans to create jobs that would be distinguished by high wages:
“The only question is the approaches used by the state. The authorities do not want to change the conditions for doing business, which most often is the source of new jobs, where highly skilled labor is used, training is offered. ".
It is necessary to develop self-employment, "Not to pressure entrepreneurs with various legislative acts, but to let people earn money".
For example, to change the deduction system to the Social Security Fund, excluding from the period of payment to the fund the time during which the individual does not work: “I must admit that at present the creation of an individual entrepreneur is a way out of a difficult situation, for example, after dismissal. Provided, of course, if it will be easy to create such an enterprise ".
In parallel, it is necessary to work with small, medium and large businesses in terms of simplifying economic conditions, the expert emphasized.
Today, more and more often, parents are thinking about the birth of a second, third child. What are the benefits for a large family?
Rights and guarantees
Currently, large families raising minor children are exempt from real estate tax and land tax (Tax Code of the Republic of Belarus (Special Part) (hereinafter - OCHNK), Articles 186, 194). The rates of the single tax are reduced for payers-parents (adoptive parents) in large families by 20 percent starting from the month following the month in which the right to the benefit arose, including the last day of the month in which such a right was lost (OCHNK, article 297).
Parents with two or more children under the age of eighteen or disabled children under the age of eighteen are entitled to a standard tax deduction in the amount of 52.00 Belarusian rubles per child per month (Article 164 OCHNK).
Educational benefits
For students from large families, the fee for using textbooks and teaching aids is reduced by 50 percent of the established fee for using the corresponding textbooks and teaching aids (Code of the Republic of Belarus on Education, article 39).
Parents' payment for food for children in institutions providing preschool education is reduced by 50 percent for families with three or more children under the age of 18 (Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus dated February 29, 2008 No. 307 “On the amount and procedure for collecting payments for meals for children receiving preschool education, special education at the level of preschool education ").
The photo is for illustrative purposes only.
Free meals at the expense of the republican and (or) local budgets are provided to students of institutions of general secondary education when mastering the content of educational programs of general secondary education from low-income families (families whose average per capita income, for objective reasons, is lower than the highest value of the budget of the subsistence minimum on average per capita, approved by the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection for the last two quarters), from families with three or more children under the age of 18 (Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus dated February 21, 2005 No. 177 "On approval of the Regulation on the organization of meals for students receiving general secondary education , special education at the level of general secondary education ").
Heads of state educational institutions have the right to provide, during the period of receiving higher, secondary specialized education, discounts from the formed cost of education in the manner and amount determined by the Government of the Republic of Belarus, to students and pupils from families in which three or more minor children are brought up (Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus of 28 February 2006 № 126 "On some issues of obtaining higher and secondary specialized education on a paid basis").
Labor guaranteeslegislation
A mother (stepmother) or father (stepfather), guardian (caregiver) raising (raising) three or more children under the age of sixteen is provided with one additional day off from work per week with payment in the amount of the average daily wage (resolution of the Ministry of Labor and social protection of the Republic of Belarus dated 11.06.2014 No. 34 "On the procedure and conditions for providing additional days off from work").
Women who have given birth to five or more children and raised them up to 8 years of age are entitled to an old-age pension with a decrease in the generally established retirement age by 5 years (as well as women whose fifth child by this time has not reached 8 years of age) and with work experience work for at least 15 years (part one of Article 19 of the Law of the Republic of Belarus "On Pension Provision").
Women who have given birth to five or more children and raised them up to the age of 16, with work experience in collective farms, state farms and other agricultural enterprises directly in the production of agricultural products for at least 10 years (without counting the time of caring for children in the work experience), have the right to a pension regardless of age (part two of Article 19 of the Law of the Republic of Belarus "On Pension Provision").
On termination of laborcontract
In accordance with Article 268 of the Labor Code of the Republic of Belarus (hereinafter referred to as the LC), termination of an employment contract on the initiative of the employer with pregnant women, women with children under the age of three is not allowed, except in cases of liquidation of the organization, termination of the activities of a branch, representative office or other separate subdivisions of the organization located in another locality, termination of the activities of an individual entrepreneur, as well as on the grounds provided for in paragraphs 4, 5, 7-9 of Article 42 and Article 47 of the Labor Code. It is also not allowed to terminate an employment contract on the initiative of the employer with single mothers with children between the ages of three and fourteen (disabled children under eighteen years of age), except in cases of liquidation of the organization, termination of the activities of a branch, representative office or other separate subdivision of the organization located in another locality, termination of the activities of an individual entrepreneur, as well as on the grounds provided for in paragraphs 2, 4, 5, 7-9 of Article 42 and Article 47 of the Labor Code. At the same time, the legislation does not prohibit termination of an employment contract on other grounds.
According to paragraph 6 of the first part of Article 16, as well as Article 268 of the Labor Code, it is prohibited to unjustifiably refuse to conclude an employment contract with women for reasons related to pregnancy or the presence of children under the age of three years, and single mothers - with the presence of a child under the age of fourteen ( disabled child - up to eighteen years old). Other reasons may be grounds for refusal to apply for a job on a general basis (lack of appropriate education, required work experience, work experience in a specialty, etc.).
In case of refusal to conclude an employment contract for the indicated categories of women, the employer is obliged to inform the reasons in writing. Refusal to conclude an employment contract can be appealed in court.
State awards for large families
Women who have given birth and raised five or more children are awarded the Order of the Mother (Law of the Republic of Belarus "On State Awards of the Republic of Belarus" dated May 18, 2004 No. 288-3).
Lodging
In accordance with the Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus dated 06.01.2012 No. 13 "On some issues of providing citizens with state support for the construction (reconstruction) or purchase of residential premises" (hereinafter - Decree No. 13):
1.1. low-income citizens of the Republic of Belarus from large families who are registered in need of better housing conditions are entitled to receive preferential loans for construction (reconstruction) or purchase of residential premises (subparagraph 1.1 of paragraph 1 of Decree No. 13);
1.2. large families have an extraordinary right to receive preferential loans (subparagraph 1.2 of paragraph 1 of Decree No. 13);
1.3. the maximum period for which soft loans are provided for large families should not exceed 40 years. Interest for using soft loans during their repayment period for large families is set at 1 percent per annum (subparagraph 1.4 of paragraph 1 of Decree No. 13);
1.4. for large families, the standards for the total cost of a dwelling under construction (reconstructed) to determine the size of a soft loan are set at 20 sq. meters per family member, and for citizens permanently residing and working in rural settlements and building (reconstructing) single-family or blocked residential buildings in them - 30 sq. meters (subparagraph 1.5 of paragraph 1 of Decree No. 13);
1.5. the maximum size of a concessional loan for the construction (reconstruction) of a dwelling is determined by the standardized size of the total area of a dwelling and should not exceed 100 percent for large families (subparagraph 1.4 of paragraph 1 of Decree No. 13);
1.6. preferential loans for the purchase of residential premises are provided for large families in an amount not exceeding 100 percent of the maximum loan amount allocated for the construction (reconstruction) of housing and the value of the estimated value of the acquired residential premises, determined in the manner established by the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus (subparagraph 1.8 of paragraph 1 Decree No. 13).
In accordance with the Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus dated 04.07.2017 No. 240 "On state support of citizens in the construction of residential premises":
1.4. the right to receive a subsidy for the repayment of the principal debt, together with the receipt of a subsidy for the payment of a part of the interest, is granted to:
large families with three or more minor children;
1.7. Large families that have exercised their right to receive subsidies to pay part of the interest (subsidies) or to receive state support in accordance with the Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus dated January 6, 2012 No. 13, including on an extraordinary basis, as well as families that have acquired the status of large families after the improvement of housing conditions with the attraction of a subsidy for the payment of part of the interest (subsidies) or state support in accordance with the Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus dated January 6, 2012 No. 13, have the right to receive state support again in the form of a subsidy for the payment of part of the interest ( subsidies), including on an extraordinary basis, regardless of the restrictions provided for in part three of this subparagraph, if the grounds for registering those in need of improving their living conditions have arisen in connection with the birth (adoption, adoption) of children.
1.8. the subsidy for the payment of part of the interest is provided in the following amounts:
large families with three minor children as of the date of filing an application for subsidies (applications for inclusion in the lists for receiving subsidies in the case of approval of these lists in accordance with part two of sub-clause 1.14 of this clause) - in the amount of the refinancing rate of the National Bank, increased by 2 percentage points, but not more than the interest rate on the loan, established by the loan agreement;
large families with four or more minor children as of the date of filing an application for subsidies (applications for inclusion in the lists for receiving subsidies in the case of approval of these lists in accordance with part two of sub-clause 1.14 of this clause) - in the amount of the refinancing rate of the National Bank, increased by 3 percentage points, but not more than the interest rate on the loan established by the loan agreement;
large families with at least three children under the age of 23 listed in paragraph three of clause 3 of this Decree, as of the date of submission of an application for a subsidy for the payment of a part of interest (applications for inclusion in the lists for a subsidy for the payment of a part of interest, if approved of the specified lists in accordance with part two of sub-clause 1.14 of this clause), as well as to citizens listed in paragraphs four and five of sub-clause 1.4 of this clause - in the amount of the refinancing rate of the National Bank, increased by 2 percentage points, but not more than the interest rate on the loan, established by the loan agreement;
1.10. a subsidy for repayment of the principal debt is provided to families with many children in accordance with the number of minor children in the family on the date of submission of an application for subsidies (applications for inclusion in the lists for receiving subsidies if the specified lists are approved in accordance with part two of subparagraph 1.14 of this paragraph) in the following amounts :
in the presence of three minor children - in the amount of 95 percent of the principal amount of the loan;
in the presence of four or more minor children - in the amount of 100 percent of the principal amount of the loan.
1.13. the maximum standardized cost of a dwelling for the provision of a subsidy for the payment of part of the interest (subsidies) to citizens engaged in the construction (reconstruction) of a dwelling is determined by the standardized size of the total area of a dwelling, established in the manner prescribed in parts one through six of subparagraph 1.6 of paragraph 1 of the Presidential Decree Of the Republic of Belarus dated January 6, 2012 No. 13, taking into account the standards for the total area of the residential premises under construction (reconstructed) established in subparagraph 1.5 of paragraph 1 of the Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus No. 13 dated January 6, 2012, and at the cost of 1 sq. meters of the total area of a residential building under construction (reconstructed), but not exceeding the maximum standard for the cost of 1 sq. meters of the total area of living quarters, determined by the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus, and should not exceed 90 percent (for large families - 100 percent) of the normalized size of the total area of living quarters taken into account in the calculation of the cost of construction (reconstruction).
During the construction of residential premises in rural settlements by citizens who permanently live and work in them, as well as during the construction of residential premises by large families in settlements with a population of up to 20 thousand people and satellite cities, the maximum standardized cost of residential premises for the provision of subsidies for payment part of the interest (subsidies) is determined taking into account the cost of the construction of outbuildings provided for by the project documentation in the amount of up to 20 percent of the maximum standardized cost of residential premises, calculated in accordance with part one of this subparagraph.
According to the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Protection
