BARANOVICHI, 28 December (BelTA) – The number of large families in Belarus grew by 40% in 2015-2020, Belarus' Labor and Social Security Minister Irina Kostevich said as she met with families from Baranovichi District and Baranovichi on 28 December, BelTA has learned.
The family capital program was launched in 2015. Since then, the number of large families has soared by 40% to 112,000. Brest Oblast is in the lead in terms of the number of large families by region.
“According to our analysis, the family capital program has proven effective. On average, 20,000-22,000 third and subsequent children are born every year. The government decided to extend the program,” Irina Kostevich noted. “The amended family capital program was launched on 1 January 2020. It provides for using family capital ahead of due time. Almost 27,000 large families took advantage of this option. About 90% of them used family capital to solve the housing issue. Those were people who were on the waiting list to improve housing conditions,” she added.
The Labor and Social Security Ministry collects proposals from large families regarding the list of occasions that allow using family capital earlier. “We are working on this matter. Similar discussions will take place across the country, because we want to learn about families' needs to make the most of the measures to support families with kids. We will visit other regions in January,” Irina Kostevich said.
The first meeting with families, including large families, took place in Smolevichi. On 28 December, Irina Kostevich held a similar meeting in Baranovichi.
Photos by Vadim Yakubyonok
