MINSK, 28 August (BelTA) – The government has made up its mind on what should be done in 2019 with regard to the size of public sector salaries and pensions. Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Rumas made the relevant statement during the Council of Ministers session held on 28 August to discuss the next year's draft social and economic development forecast, draft major monetary management guidelines, and the draft state budget as well as a new revision of the Tax Code, BelTA has learned.
The head of government gave instructions to focus on the main items of expenditure in the state budget taking into account requirements of the head of state. Among other things state support for the real sector is supposed to drop by 10% while funding available to the social sphere is supposed to grow proportionately.
“In 2019 the government intends to raise public sector salaries to at least 80% of the country's average. The size of retirement pensions should be at least 40% of the average salary,” noted Sergei Rumas.
The Finance Ministry has been instructed to analyze what is going on in the budget sphere. “I cannot rule out that we are going to optimize the numbers together,” added the prime minister.
