Events

MINSK, 25 March (BelTA) – Raising the retirement age of women up to 58 years and the retirement age of men up to 63 years was recognized as the optimal solution during the government conference held by the head of state. The relevant statement was made by Belarusian Labor and Social Protection Minister Marianna Shchetkina after the government conference held by the Belarus president on 25 March to discuss the improvement of the national pension system, BelTA has learned.

According to the official, it would be more economically lucrative if women retired at 60 and men retired at 63. However, the 58/63 option is a softer one and takes into account the fact that Belarusian women work a lot doing household chores. Apart from that, according to the statistics, they work longer.

Marianna Shchetkina said that at the beginning of the government conference when those in favor of the more lucrative economic option started explaining their point of view, Alexander Lukashenko overruled them by saying that no options other than the 58/63 option would be considered. “Yes, today our women need support and we will provide such support. Gradually increasing the retirement age by six-month steps starting 1 January 2017 up to 58 for women and up to 63 for men was recognized as the most appropriate solution as a result of the discussions during the government conference,” said the Belarusian Labor and Social Protection Minister.

BelTA reported earlier that during the government conference on 25 March Alexander Lukashenko stated he intended to sign the documents concerning the improvement of the national pension system the next week.

The head of state said: “Today we should come up with a solution to the problem. Just like with the utilities system we should get it over with so that the next week the head of state would sign the relevant documents after deciding on these matters.”