Volozhin Region
Executive Committee

From August 27 to September 28, electronic job fairs will be held for residents of Minsk Oblast.

According to the State Employment Service, on August 27, an electronic job fair will be held for citizens looking for work in the Lyuban region. From 10.00 to 12.00, they organize online consulting with the participation of OJSC "Rybokombinat "Lyuban", the Lyubanskoye District Po, the Foreign Enterprise "Lyuban Clothes Factory".

In Nesvizh and Nesvizh region, vacancies will be offered on August 28 from 10.00 to 12.00 - OJSC "Nesvizh rayagroservice", UZ "Nesvizhskaya CRB", OJSC "Lan-Nesvizh".

Also on September 28, from 10.00 to 12.00, job seekers will have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with vacancies in Starye Dorogi region.

Job search events will be organized on a single resource www.e-vacancy.by, where anyone can ask employers questions, send a resume, receive an electronic consultation and an invitation for an interview online.

The Belarusian air carrier Belavia has extended suspension of air travel to Riga, Latvia till 6 September, BelTA learned from the website of the airline.

Moreover, Belavia will not fly to Russia till 14 September (flights to Voronezh, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod have been suspended till 24 October) as Russia has not allowed air travel from Belarus yet.

The airline has also extended suspension of air travel to Larnaca till 31 August, to Ashgabat till 1 September, and to all destinations in Georgia till 30 September.

Customers who purchased tickets for these travel dates will be able to apply for a refund or to reschedule the flight till 30 March 2021. Tickets can be refunded and flights can be rescheduled at company's offices and customer service centers.

Stable operation of the Belarusian industry is a cornerstone of the country's economy, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at a government meeting to discuss the development of the country's major industrial companies on 27 August, BelTA has learned.

The situation at major largest companies affiliated with the Industry Ministry was high on the agenda of the meeting. “We will discuss the state of affairs and what are the development prospects for these companies,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

He added that several days ago he heard out reports of the first vice premier and the finance minister. The meeting examined the state of affairs in finances and budget of the country. “Everyone understands perfectly well that efficient operation of manufacturing companies is crucial for the national budget and the ability of the state to finance social programs. The stable operation of the Belarusian industry is a cornerstone of the country's economy,” the head of state said.

The president added that this year has been a difficult one. Many markets closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The flow of goods and capital practically stopped. Now there is a difficult political situation in the country, and the attempts to stir up tensions comes from inside and outside, he said. “This pressure impacts the domestic economic situation. I would like to reiterate that no one will give us any gratuitous assistance. We have to rely on our strengths and capabilities.”

The head of state asked the participants of the meeting, especially the heads of enterprises, what the moral and psychological situation in working collectives is, how the manufacturing processes are going and what the situation with export is. “Export promotion is our key challenge. A foreign currency flow, ruble exchange rate and so on depend on this. We cannot sit and wait for some to come and line up to buy these products. We have to be more aggressive. We provide export promotion assistance. Is there anything we could do more to help,” the head of state asked.

According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, almost all the country's industries showed growth in January-July, and stocks of finished products are gradually decreasing. These are positive signals, he said. The president also asked about the companies' forecasts for the end of 2020. “Next year is the start of a new five-year plan. No matter what it takes, we have to work hard and show growth at the finish line,” the Belarusian leader said.

According to Industry Minister Piotr Parkhomchik, Belarusian industrial enterprises operate in the normal mode. All production lines are in action, and Belarusian products are sold under the signed contracts. “The social and psychological situation has normalized over the last week and is assessed as satisfactory today. Awareness raising activities are conducted with the staff. There are no economic reasons for possible strikes,” the minister said.

Almost 50.000 schoolchildren of junior and senior grades of Minsk and Minsk Oblast improved their health in children's camps this summer, Belarus 1 reports.

Due to the epidemic situation, the first camp shifts this year began to work two weeks later. At all sites, mandatory sanitary requirements were observed, children spent a lot of time in the fresh air, thematic circles worked, virtual excursions were conducted. And these days the last summer shift is coming to an end.

In total, more than 300 round-the-clock and day camps functioned in our country this season. In October, a traditional competition will be held in which the best children's health institution in Belarus will be selected.

No one should tell Belarus what to do and how, Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives' Standing Commission on International Affairs Oleg Gaidukevich told the SB. Belarus Segodnya newspaper, BelTA has learned.

“All the issues we have in the country should be handled by ourselves, because no one else will ever take care of us. Unfortunately, a number of countries are openly interfering in Belarus' domestic affairs. This is unacceptable; no one should tell us what to do. We should make every effort to consolidate people. I have an alternative point of view; it is good to have such a point of view. If everyone shares the same view, the country will not advance further. We should resolve all issues through a national dialogue, without intermediaries. We do not need them to handle our domestic political affairs,” Oleg Gaidukevich said.

The MP noted that financing and open support of any political forces from outside, pressure on the country are inadmissible. “It is clear that they will defend the interests of those who pay them, not the interests of our country. We know very well that it is about geopolitics and nothing else, because everyone is acting solely in their national interests. The activity on our western borders will come to no good, this is escalation. Naturally, we will respond to the military buildup at our borders not only domestically, but also as a member of the Union State, the CSTO. Our army should be strong, as in this case there will be no conflicts. The ongoing situation has showed that we have real allies – for example Russia's position looks the most decent for me. Russia says that it will never intervene in our domestic affairs and warns other countries against it,” the MP added.

The development of a uniform distance learning platform will be completed in Belarus by the end of 2020, Education Minister Igor Karpenko told the Belarus 1 TV channel, BelTA informs.

“We are starting the academic year in the usual format. At the same time, we are actively getting ready for all kinds of developments. We were heavily criticized for the lack of a uniform distance learning platform. This is not a panacea; it will not replace the classroom in secondary and vocational school. Nevertheless, we are working on it. By the end of this year, a uniform distance learning platform will be developed. By the way, the option is of interest not only for students, but also for young teachers,” Igor Karpenko said.

At first, the platform will be launched in a test mode. It is supposed to become fully operational on 1 September 2021.

Igor Karpenko informed that the Education Ministry jointly with the Healthcare Ministry developed guidelines for managing the educational process amidst the coronavirus pandemic. “The Education Ministry and the Healthcare Ministry will respond to any difficulties caused the rise of seasonal viral infections on a case-by-case basis. I would like to emphasize that we will recommend that teachers and all people working with children (and children themselves) get vaccinated,” added Igor Karpenko.

In Minsk Oblast, as of the morning of August 24, 97% of the area was harvested, according to the Committee on Agriculture and Food, Minsk Oblast Executive Committee.

In total, 1922 thousand tons of grain and leguminous crops were threshed with an average yield of 40 c/ha.

The leaders are Slutsk region with 159.1 thousand tons of ground, followed by Minsk region - 150.8 thousand tons and Kopyl region - 145.8 thousand tons.

The best in terms of productivity are Nesvizh, Kletsk, Minsk, Dzerzhinsk districts, indicators in the range of 56-67 c/ha.

It is also worth noting that some farms have already completed grain harvesting: Berezino, Kletsk, Molodechno, Myadel, Nesvizh, Starye Dorogi, Stolbtsy and Uzda regions.

Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko heard out a report of First Deputy Prime Minister Nikolai Snopkov and Finance Minister Yuri Seliverstov on 25 August, BelTA informs.

“The meeting will focus on the implementation of the state budget, local budgets,” the president said at the beginning of the meeting. “First of all, I want you to report on the influence of the budget on the formation of salaries. We agreed that it should be 80% of the average salary in the country for budget-sponsored employees. Of course, the budget has a strong influence on pensions of our people. Pensions are a holy thing.”

The head of state deems it necessary to ensure that pensions make up 40% of the average salary. “Veterans turned out to be the most persistent and reliable people. They are, in fact, the pillars of our statehood in this complicated period. We must take care of them. If we do not take care of them, it will mean that we are not the government, not the state,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

Another issue on the agenda was the fulfillment of the state obligations to repay foreign debt. “What is the state of affairs here? If it is necessary to refinance something, we need to think how to do it. If we do not refinance, if we cope with it ourselves, please tell me. Of course, the time is not easy. We have spent huge money on coronavirus treatment, all these so-called strikes, rallies have also put pressure on the economic situation. Nobody is counting the money that is spent on them. The losses have already reached Br500 million, and we still do not know what collateral losses will be,” the president said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko asked about budget revenues, the projected deficit in Belarus and of partners, about the impact of markets' closures on these relations. “What is going on on foreign markets? How is the economy working? In what areas do we receive less than due?” the president asked.

Finance Minister Yuri Seliverstov told reporters in early August that Belarus' state budget may fail to receive up to Br4 billion in revenues due to the situation with oil and due to the slower economic growth amid the pandemic.

The planned budget deficit has been raised from Br900 million to Br2.1 billion. The figure may go all the way to Br5 billion at the end of the year. The finance minister stressed there is nothing extraordinary about it, the move reflects the restructuring of debts of bakery plants to the tune of about Br1.3 billion. Yuri Seliverstov explained that the Finance Ministry has some reserves in Belarusian rubles, which had rolled over from the previous surplus years. The reserves will be used to honor all the commitments as the current revenues go down.

In January-July 2020 the deficit of the central state budget amounted to Br1.4 billion. Revenues totaled Br12.8 billion, with expenses at Br14.2 billion. Revenues were Br1.5 billion below last year's figure. The budget received the planned sums from excise duties (Br1.7 billion), VAT (Br5.8 billion), export customs duties on potash fertilizers (Br883 million).

The state budget failed to get the planned sums from export customs duties on oil and oil products (Br175 million or 13% of the target), profit tax (Br260 million or about 18%), and dividends (Br216 million or about 21% of the targeted amount). The economic downturn had a direct effect on revenues from dividends and the profit tax, the finance minister explained.

The Belarusian air carrier Belavia has extended suspension of air travel to Russia till 14 September, BelTA learned from the website of the airline.

Belavia will not fly to Russia till 14 September (flights to Voronezh, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod have been suspended till 24 October) as Russia has not allowed air travel from Belarus yet.

The airline noted that it has also extended suspension of air travel to Riga and Larnaca till 31 August, to Ashgabat till 1 September, and to all destinations in Georgia till 30 September.

Customers who purchased tickets for these travel dates will be able to apply for a refund or to reschedule the flight till 30 March 2021. Tickets can be refunded and flights can be rescheduled at company's offices and customer service centers.

Just a few days are left before the start of the new academic year, Belarus 1.

In Minsk Oblast, 400 schools and kindergartens were repaired and updated. This year, 12 new institutions of preschool and secondary education will open doors for students and pupils.

Thus, over a thousand children in the village of Kopische, Minsk region, will become new settlers. Updating by early fall is a tradition with a beneficial effect. After all, learning in fresh interiors and with new equipment is twice as pleasant.