Social Policy in the Republic of Belarus

The aim of the social policy is to guarantee constant growth in the standard and quality of living of the people. Belarus has managed to avoid substantial negative processes in the social sphere related to unemployment, drastic stratification of the population by income level, lower access to health services, education, etc while reforming the economy.

The Government follows socially oriented market model of relations Business initiative of the population is promoted. Much is done to improve the demographic situation by expanding reproduction of the Belarusian population. Well-being and living conditions are being substantially improved. Constitutional rights of citizens to employment, social protection, education, health care, culture and housing, are guaranteed.

A dynamic social policy of the state and obvious progress in the economy, allowed Belarus to become one of the highest among the CIS countries (the Commonwealth of Independent States – СНГ) in terms of hum an development index according to the UN data which takes into account the standard of living of the population, its level of education and life expectancy.

The objective of the Belarusian legislative framework (basis) is to prevent the living standard of the population, primarily less protected categories (retirement pensioners: invalids, families with children and single-parent families) from being decreased, to upgrade effectiveness of social programs. There are 2,6 mln pensioners in Belarus which accounts for 26.4% of the population. Males have the right to the retirement pension upon reaching 60 years of age and with the work record not less than 25 years. Females retire at the age of 55 and with the work record not less than 20 years.

Citizens not receiving the employment pension are entitled to social pensions – the handicapped, including handicapped from childhood, who reached the pension age, and children who lost the breadwinner.

The following most important categories of benefits are provided in Belarus: temporary disablement benefit, benefit for families with children, unemployment allowance, and burial benefit.

Working pregnant women have a maternity leave (отпуск по беременности). The benefit is paid to working women, students and unemployed).

In accordance with the law “ On State Benefits to Families with Children ”, the following benefits are granted:

* prenatal allowance;

* birth grant;

* allowance to women for registration in the medical institution prior to 12-week pregnancy period;

* benefit and leave for caring a child under 3 years of age, with the leave period being included in the continuous work record;

* benefit for children at the age from 3 to 16 (18) years of age; its size depends on the total monthly family’s income;

* benefit for nursing sick children and handicapped children under 18 years of age; children infected with HIV or sick with AIDS;

* supplements to the state benefits for extramarital children, children brought up by single parent.

Упр. 4. Письменно закончите данные предложения, выбрав вариант из предложенных.

1. The aim of the social policy in the republic of Belarus is

a. to entitle social pensions to all the citizens.

b. to guarantee constant growth in the standard and quality of living of the people.

c. to decrease the living standard of the population.

2. Belarus occupies one of the highest places

a. among the European countries.

b. among the Common Market countries.

c. among the Commonwealth of Independent States countries.

3. Women have the right to the retirement pension.

a. at the age of 60.

b. at the age of 55.

c. at the age of 55 and with the work record not less than 20 years.

Дата добавления: 2015-07-11