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Natalya Kochanova, Chairwoman of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus, discussed the fate of Polotsk Dairy Plant and the development prospects of Novye Goryany in an open conversation with the workforce of these enterprises during a working trip to Vitebsk Oblast on 22 April, BelTA has learned.
Natalya Kochanova said that residents of Polotsk had approached the Council of the Republic hoping to learn about the fate of one of the district’s largest enterprises - the dairy plant. Meeting with the workers on site, Natalya Kochanova emphasized that changes are ahead that will benefit everyone. After the completion of the acquisition deal for the plant at its market valuation, the facility will become part of Savushkin Product, whose management plans to fully modernize it, introduce innovative technologies, and create a modern, efficiently operating enterprise with comfortable working conditions for the people.
“This issue is under our supervision in the Council of the Republic and in Vitebsk Oblast Executive Committee. Most importantly, this issue is under the supervision of the president of our country. At the meeting on the development of Vitebsk Oblast, regarding the problematic issues raised by the president, a clear task was set. First and foremost, we must preserve the workforce, and enterprises must operate efficiently. Therefore, in accordance with the head of state’s instruction regarding Polotsk Dairy Plant, a thoroughly considered and correct decision was made. Savushkin Product is an enterprise known not only in our country but far beyond its borders. Together with the management of this enterprise and the leadership of Vitebsk Oblast, we decided to meet with the workforce to tell people what awaits them in the future, and the future looks wonderful. We see how effectively the enterprises that are part of the Savushkin Product operate, what cutting-edge technologies they have, state-of-the-art production facilities, an excellent social package for employees, decent wages, and already over 10,000 people work there. For Polotsk Dairy Plant, the investor proposes to carry out a complete reconstruction of the enterprise by the end of the year. It will produce virtually the same products it currently produces,” emphasized the chairwoman of the Council of the Republic, adding that all jobs will be preserved.
Employees of the dairy plant asked whether Polotsk would be able to provide jobs for those who might wish to change their place of work. Vasily Shilov, Chairman of the District Executive Committee, noted that there are vacancies in the city, so everyone who wants to work will find employment. People were also concerned about the fate of the plant’s brands - Safiyka, under which whole-milk products are produced, and Mi-Shu! (curd cheese bars). Aleksandr Savchits, Director General of Savushkin Product, noted that the well-established product names will be retained. Vitebsk Oblast Governor Aleksandr Rogozhnik emphasized that the investor coming to Polotsk District is a domestic one, interested in developing a high-quality Belarusian product, and will therefore invest funds both in modernizing production facilities and in promoting Polotsk dairy products in domestic and foreign markets.
During a visit to Novye Goryany, Natalya Kochanova was briefed on how the spring sowing campaign is progressing. She also spoke with the staff of the agricultural enterprise. The chairwoman of the Council of the Republic reported that a development strategy for the enterprise has been established, and sources of financing have been found for the purchase of seeds, feed, and new machinery. In the future, Novye Goryany plans to build a modern dairy farm complex. New housing is also planned for young employees in the eponymous agro-town. The speaker urged the agricultural enterprise’s workforce to work diligently, maintain order on the farms, and care properly for the animals, so that products can be supplied to Polotsk Dairy Plant.
Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko signed decree No.136 “On irregular passenger road transportation” on 22 April, which improves legal regulation of this sector, the press service of the head of state told BelTA.
According to the document, the list of data to be included in the registry of irregular passenger road transportation is being expanded. In the absence of such data, transportation is deemed illegal.
New grounds are provided for suspending the operation of road carriers: a failure to submit tax declarations, the existence of tax arrears, the submission of false information to tax authorities, and other ones. These measures are aimed at suppressing the operation of shell companies.
The decree prohibits carriers from using the vehicles owned by a carrier that has been removed from the registry due to violations. Reinstatement to the registry is possible after three months.
Apart from that, the list of transport services not covered by decree No.32 “On passenger road transport” of 25 January 2024 is being expanded.
The implementation of decree No.136 will allow improving safety and creating a transparent tax environment in the irregular passenger road transportation sector.
How the president’s instruction to change the tactics of land reclamation is being fulfilled has been explained by Chairman of the Regional Policy and Local Self-Government Commission of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus Leonid Zayats, BelTA has learned.
“The task the president wanted us to complete in 2021-2025 has been successfully completed. Reclamation measures were carried out on an area of 416,000 hectares while the target was 412,000 hectares. Additionally, 75,000 hectares were reclaimed for agricultural use over the five-year period. In the five-year period of 2026-2030 it is necessary to carry out a set of reclamation measures on an area of 431,000 hectares. This is a huge area. Understanding that every kopeck must be accounted for today, it is proposed, taking into account the president’s demand, to reclaim for agricultural use high-quality lands in undrained territory that have become overgrown with bushes. The target of 431,000 hectares will be hit. We will only reallocate resources to make sure that these high-quality lands, which are located in almost all regions of our republic, are once again used as part of agriculture. There are 45,600 hectares of these lands,” said Leonid Zayats.
The reallocation of resources is necessary for cultural and technical land amelioration. “Some of the land will be cleared of bushes and plowed and in some places drainage will need to be laid. All of it together will lead to the fact that during the current five-year period we will completely get rid of wild vegetation in our drained and undrained lands,” emphasized the chairman of the Regional Policy and Local Self-Government Commission of the Council of the Republic.
He pointed out that the implementation of this plan by land reclamation organizations and agricultural enterprises will ensure better contours of fields, increase labor productivity, and reduce material costs of tillage. “During the past five-year period we carried out a huge amount of work. The most difficult areas have already been reclaimed and put in order. Therefore, we can reallocate the financial resources allocated for land reclamation as part of the total volume. This will be beneficial for agricultural enterprises and land users, and we will also save state budget funds,” noted Leonid Zayats. He suggested that these measures would save about Br92 million.
BelTA reported earlier that during a working trip to Krasnopolye District, Mogilev Oblast on 14 April Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko stated it is necessary to change the tactics of land reclamation.
Belarusian citizenship has been granted to 230 foreign citizens and stateless persons, including 13 minors. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko has signed the corresponding decree, the press service of the Belarusian leader told BelTA.
People from 19 states have become the new citizens of Belarus. The number includes Russia, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Syria, Latvia, Türkiye, and other countries. Most of them came from Ukraine.
The individuals who have been granted Belarusian citizenship have lived in the country for five years or more, speak one of the state languages, and are occupied in various branches of the national economy. They work in manufacturing sector, agriculture, civil engineering, trade, and education.
At the same time the head of state decided to reject applications for citizenship from a number of individuals, who have violated Belarus’ laws.
Deputy Labor and Social Security Minister Yuliya Berdnikova explained the main goal of digitalizing the social and labor sector in Belarus while speaking in the latest episode of BelTA’s Nation Speaks project.
Yuliya Berdnikova emphasized that the main result of introducing digitalization into the social and labor sector is to ensure that anyone can use the Labor and Social Security Ministry’s electronic services simply, easily, and accessibly. “Alongside electronic formats, we are preserving traditional consulting and in-person visits to our government agencies. But the times demand innovation, and technology allows us to improve the quality of service for citizens in a simple and convenient way. Therefore, any interaction that exists in traditional form, we are digitizing and providing as electronic services. For example, scheduling appointments: today, you can book an appointment electronically at any body of the social security system,” she said.
In addition to services on the social security portal, the Labor and Social Security Ministry’s services are also available on the unified electronic services portal E-Pasluga. “The most in-demand issues are whether a person is employed or not, and at what income level contributions are paid. The banking system is the most integrated with us. When microcrediting for citizens takes place, we understand perfectly well: there’s no need to bring an income certificate to the bank branch. The individual gives written consent for personal data processing, and the bank requests the information electronically from the Social Protection Fund. We confirm whether the person is indeed employed. If the bank wants to know at what income level contributions are paid, we provide that information so the bank can preemptively check its client’s solvency,” the deputy minister explained.
Other information now provided electronically includes certificates of the amount of pension received or the amount of targeted assistance paid out. These can also be obtained through the unified electronic services portal.
“Moreover, we are not only transferring to this portal the electronic services that citizens need so they don’t have to visit government agencies and can obtain information remotely. We are also converting administrative procedures into digital form. About 30% of them have been digitized so far. One procedure, which will launch in April 2026, is the registration of a citizen as unemployed. Previously, this required visiting the state employment service and submitting a specific set of documents. Today, you can register as unemployed electronically from home and receive job placement assistance from state employment service specialists,” the deputy minister said.
Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko has signed the law “On amending the codes on administrative responsibility”. This is the first major adjustment of these codes since their adoption in 2021, BelTA learned from the press service of the head of state.
The law introduces administrative measures for a number of new offences: illegal transactions with digital tokens, violation of requirements for mobile network coverage and quality, non-compliance with the procedure for purchasing official passenger cars, and others.
A separate section is dedicated to the protection of traditional values. Liability is introduced for the propaganda of homosexual relations, gender transition, pedophilia, and childlessness, with fines of up to Br900, and up to Br1,350 or administrative arrest if committed against a minor.
The law also strengthens the prevention of offences among teenagers. A separate chapter outlines the procedure for applying educational measures against minors (enforcers, procedure, deadlines).
The grounds for exemption from liability have been expanded. For example, in cases of voluntary compensation for environmental damage or correction of errors in statistical documents.
Additional steps have been taken towards de-bureaucratization of the administrative process. Now, a complaint against the actions of officials handling a case can be filed electronically. Some cases can be reviewed without the personal presence of a citizen if he or she submits a written request to that effect.
About 150 more articles of the codes are being adjusted to bring them in line with sectoral legislation and to improve them based on enforcement practices, drawing on more than 500 proposals related to clarifying jurisdiction, the rights and obligations of participants in the proceedings, and the elements of offences.
A two-day international seminar on occupational safety has kicked off in Minsk. The seminar was titled “Modern Methods and Techniques for Construction and Installation Work, as well as Public Oversight of Occupational Safety Compliance in Belarus’ Construction Industry Organizations”, BelTA learned from the Ministry of Architecture and Construction.
More than 100 delegates from five countries are taking part in the seminar: Belarus, Kazakhstan, Cyprus, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia. The event is timed to coincide with World Day for Safety and Health at Work.
The Belarusian Trade Union of Construction and Industrial Building Materials Workers noted that the seminar began at the Occupational Safety Center of the Minskstroy State Production Association. Participants were introduced to modern methods of workplace safety training. After the theoretical part, the program shifted to a practical dimension: attendees went to construction sites in the capital, visited the National History Museum site, and thoroughly examined the progress of the new infectious diseases hospital under construction on Dolginovsky Tract.
Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko called for change in land reclamation tactics during his working trip to Krasnopolye District, Mogilev Oblast, on 14 April, BelTA has learned.
The head of state raised the issue of waterlogged areas – sections of fields where water stagnates, leading to the death of crops. As a rule, this happens in spring when snow melts or after heavy rains. The appearance of such waterlogged areas is partly linked to low farming standards, which Aleksandr Lukashenko pointed out.
“People used to cultivate the land, and everything was fine. Then they abandoned those small plots, left the waterlogged areas untreated – and now the scrub is taking over. You fly over the region and see that where we once harvested grain, those wet spots are covered in scrub. This isn’t right, so we need to change our reclamation tactics now,” he stressed.
In this regard, the head of state noted the need to focus on land clearance operations. This refers to a set of land reclamation measures aimed at preparing the land surface for agricultural use. This means clearing away trees, bushes, hummocks and stones, levelling the ground, and carrying out primary tillage.
“We need to focus on land clearance now. We reclaim swamps – we dig and excavate. But draining a swamp is not so easy. Then our district executive committee chairmen and farm managers show up – they have no clue that this field needs care, that a lot of money has been put into it,” the Belarusian leader stated. “I fly over and see that scrub is starting to grow again on reclaimed land. So, we need to change our approach. Let reclamation continue, but we need to clear away this scrub. It is cheaper, and the shapes of fields will improve.”
The president gave a simple example of how entire hectares of land suitable for agriculture are lost due to mismanagement and low farming standards. “Next to a forest, you miss a spot while ploughing just once – and trees start growing. A branch grows out and moves into the field,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “The tractor driver drives around it, then they pull back a bit more, leave something – and that’s how the field shapes get smaller and we lose hectares. Everything gets taken over by scrub.”
The Belarusian leader stressed that a cost-effective approach must be applied not only in agriculture. As an example, Aleksandr Lukashenko cited the Paluzh fish farm, which he visited during his working trip to Krasnopolye District. It was reported that Belarus needs 15 such enterprises to provide itself with fish. The head of state stressed that their construction must be approached reasonably and in a cost-effective manner.
“We need to be cost-effective. If we need 15, then we need to put down 15 and spread them out over the years. Five in one year, ten in another. But if we just write it down in vague terms, they will do nothing at all. They will simply argue about different options without taking concrete action,” the president concluded.
Prime Minister Aleksandr Turchin has signed a resolution to increase financial support for orphans, the government’s press service told BelTA.
The document was drafted to improve the conditions of state support for orphans and children without parental care. It also updates the monetary standards for food expenses for students in educational institutions.
In particular, the resolution provides for a 15% increase in state institutional funding for food for orphans, as well as a 5% increase for clothing, footwear, soft furnishings, school supplies, basic necessities, and personal hygiene items. For children in family-type care, monthly allowances for food, clothing, footwear, soft furnishings and equipment, school supplies, personal hygiene items, other basic necessities, and personal expenses will be raised by 10%. The one-time payment for the initial purchase of soft furnishings and equipment for children from birth to age three will increase by 5%, and compensation for telephone and household service expenses will go up by 22%.
The resolution also provides for a corresponding increase in the amount that obligated parents must reimburse the state for the maintenance of children under state care.
The resolution also includes medicines and medical devices as part of state support for orphans, and boosts food allowances for students in educational institutions by 5%.
Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko signed Decree No. 124 “On the Register of Producers of Feeds and Feed Additives” on 13 April, BelTA has learned from the press service of the head of state.
In accordance with the document, the register will be established by the Agriculture and Food Ministry.
From 1 January 2027, entities that produce feeds and/or feed additives for farm animals for the purpose of sale must be included in the register. The activities of producers not included in the register will be considered illegal.
The decree seeks to improve the feed and feed additive production sector, thereby boosting animal productivity through the provision of balanced and fully nutritious rations.
