MINSK, 3 December (BelTA) – The government and the economic block of the country should step up efforts to protect the population and reduce inflation in 2022, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at the session held on 3 December to discuss the social and economic development of the country, BelTA informs.
“Next year I want the government to step up efforts to protect the population. You must preserve what we have this year and reduce inflation a bit. Join efforst with Kallaur [Chairman of the Board of the National Bank Pavel Kallur]. All of you should do your best. I do not demand more from you in this situation,” the Belarusian leader stressed.
In his words, sanctions are not even the main issue. “You see that because of this Omicron [the new COVID-19 variant] and the pandemic the global economy is in a state of decline. We are not giants like America or China. It is clear that the global economic decline will affect Belarus. It will be difficult to hope for a breakthrough, like a 7% GDP increase or the increase above global average. We are realistic. Therefore, our main goal is to perverse the level we have this year,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
He remarked that the current level is enough for life. “It is bearable. People just need to step up efforts. Like I said, work harder. You will be heroes if you do even better [this pertains to the indicators of the social and economic development],” the president said.
Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko said that this year the Belarusian economy has been working in terms of the growing pressure from external sanctions. Restrictions related to COVID-19 also affect business operations. “Not in our country, but in the global economy,” he said.
Nevertheless, in complicated conditions the Belarusian economy demonstrates sustainability in the face of new economic and political challenges and treats. “We have fulfilled four out of six crucial forecast parameters. The main thing is that we fulfill the main goal which was set by the head of state this year – we manage to improve people's wellbeing on the basis on sustainable economic growth,” the prime minister said.
In his words, the operation of enterprises, business, state-run and commercial institutions has been stable, all social obligations and guarantees of the state have been fulfilled. The number of people employed in the economy has been preserved. The level of unemployment is in the forecast corridor.
“The real disposable income of the population went up 2.6%. The real salary (with regard to inflation) is 4.8% higher than the level of the previous year,” Roman Golovchenko said.
He remarked that the growth of salaries in the real production sector was supported by higher labor productivity. “This money was earned,” the prime minister stressed.
As for the budget-sponsored sector, the nominal salaries soared by 14.8%. The real increase with regard to inflation was 5.1%.
The instruction to keep the correlation between the salaries in the budget-sponsored sector and the average salary at the level of 80% was fulfilled. The salaries of doctors and teachers make up 156% and 81% of the average salary in the country.” Roman Golovchenko said.
In general, he spoke about the balanced development of the economy.
