The government supports Lukashenko in wages growth

This year the Government of Belarus plans to increase the average wage in the industry up to $ 500, First Vice Premier Minister Vladimir Semashko told reporters in Minsk on March 21.

Comment

The Government simply repeats the main messages after Lukashenko to calm down the population. Lower standards of living and lower salaries amid rising prices cause serious discontent among the population. However, the government is aware that salaries cannot grow faster than the production rate. As a result, government officials say that “salaries will rise gently to keep them behind the production growth rates”. At the same time no one quotes the production growth rates (objectively not more than 2-3%), while talking about doubling of the salaries up to USD 500. This proves that the government is merely following the orders coming from the Lukashenko’s administration. First Vice-Premier Vladimir Semashko recently reiterated that Belarus had overcome the crisis. Such ungrounded complacency of the government can be costly for the economy by the end of the year.