MINSK, 24 February (BelTA) – There are plans to strengthen the mechanisms of state targeted social assistance to the population of Belarus. The relevant decision is contained in President's decree No.78 of 23 February 2016 “Concerning the measures to enhance the effectiveness of the social and economic sector of the Republic of Belarus”, BelTA learnt from the presidential press service.
The Council of Ministers of Belarus has been instructed to introduce a number of proposals to secure social protection of the population, additional support to low-income people, including retirees and other socially vulnerable categories of people.
The proposals will include an increase of the per capita living wage starting from 1 March 2016 and strengthening of the state targeted social support mechanisms, including the revision of the size of welfare benefits.
There are also plans to introduce cashless subsidies for partial payment of utility bills from 1 October 2016.
The Government, oblast executive committees and the Minsk City Hall have been instructed to allocate some Br8 trillion for social support of certain categories of the population from the national budget in 2016. Local budgets need to allocate up to Br2.8 trillion to finance cashless utility bill subsidies.
The oblast and territorial councils of deputies have been instructed to tap into local budgets for additional social support to children, the youth, war veterans, disabled people and seniors as well as other categories of people who need help.
