Alexander Lukashenko demands occupation and worthy living standards in Belarusian towns

The President of Belarus has demanded that occupation and worthy living standards should be ensured in small and medium urban communities. Summing up results of the permanent seminar for executives of national and local state administration bodies on November 30, Alexander Lukashenko noted that low incomes of citizens are the acutest social problem in small and medium towns. In small towns salaries make 83% of the country’s average, he stated. While the average salaries approached Br710,000 in September 2007, in some towns salaries totalled as little as Br300,000-400,000. “Neither the government nor local authorities should forget that incomes of individuals should be raised essentially in the next few years. If average salaries in neighbouring countries reach $1,000, we will have no other options,” said the head of state. In his words, special attention should be paid to problem towns with high unemployment levels. At present such towns account for more than 70% of those listed by the programme for developing small and medium towns. Addressing oblast and regional administration heads, Alexander Lukashenko stressed, if employment situation stays complicated for several years, “one should think about setting up enterprises to settle the unemployment problem once and for all.” “The resolution of these problems cannot be postponed any longer,” the President is convinced. Apart from that, in all problem urban communities an essential economic growth should be achieved along with financial steadiness of corporations, manufacturing and social infrastructure should be developed. Enterprises should be retooled. Business plans concerning investment projects in small and medium towns should be revised with participation of local authorities. According to the head of state, manufacturing should be a priority in their development. Housing, social sphere, municipal service can come next.