MINSK, 21 April (BelTA) – There is nothing extraordinary about raising the pension age, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said in his State of the Nation Address on 21 April, BelTA has learned.
“This year the matters related to the improvement of our pension system have received a special public response. Let us admit that we are trailing along at the back in what concerns the pension age and pension reform in general. It should have been decided long time ago. Therefore, there is nothing extraordinary about it. People supported us here,” Alexander Lukashenko said.
The President added that various options were considered to address the issue. A gradual increase of the pension age was recognized as the most rational option.
“We were criticized (especially by Russians) that we did not increase the pension age by 5 years at once. It does not matter whether it is three or five years. There is no difference from the financial point of view for the country's budget and the life expectancy of our population. We took this first step. It will last for 6-7 years. Then we will revisit the issue if such need arises,” the Belarusian leader said.
