No mass lay-offs in Belarus until presidential elections

At the meeting with Labour and Social Protection Minister Marianna Shchetkina, the president said that the main task of large industrial enterprises was to preserve employment. Lay-offs is one of the key means to improve efficiency at state enterprises and increase their competitiveness within the existing economic model in Belarus. The state enterprises were willing to fulfil the government requirements and reduce employment in order to relieve excessive burden on their budgets. However, such steps may lead to increased social tension in society, which is unacceptable in the election year. The president therefore ordered the enterprises not to hold mass lay-offs until the presidential elections.