MINSK, 14 May (BelTA) – Belarus has established a council of experts on prices and tariffs. A relevant agreement was signed between the Belarusian Ministry of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade, the Federation of Trade Unions, the National Bank, and the National Statistics Committee in Minsk on 14 May, BelTA has learned.
The Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus (FTUB) has proposed the idea to set up this council. The council shall monitor the prices in the country, perform in-depth analysis of the data, and provide recommendations for making decisions regarding prices and tariffs. The first session of the council is scheduled for late May.
Chairman of the FTUB Mikhail Orda noted that detailed analysis of prices and efficient work to prevent their unreasonable increases require coordinated activities of all responsible bodies. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko pointed out that prices are of great importance to people and should be monitored by trade unions as he attended a working meeting on 2 May. “After the meeting with the president, the FTUB proposed to set up a council of experts involving four agencies to prevent prices from going up, perform in-depth analysis of the price situation and its changes,” Mikhail Orda said.
“Unreasonable price increases affect people's everyday expenses, their life quality and welfare,” Mikhail Orda said. He added that all the agencies which have signed the agreement are committed to keep prices in check.
The council will assemble at least once a month. It will provide free access to information to make its work as transparent as possible.
Two years ago, the FTUB and the Ministry of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade signed an agreement on cooperation to monitor prices in the consumer market. The National Bank and the National Statistics Committee have joined this process. The members of the council believe this measure will help them coordinate price control activities better.
