The experience of work collectives in working with indebted persons will be disseminated in the Vitebsk region
The experience of the best work collectives in working with indebted parents will be disseminated in the Vitebsk region, as told to a BELTA correspondent by Tamara Olekhnovich, Deputy Chairperson of the Commission for Minors Affairs of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee.
As of December 1, parents obliged to reimburse the state for the costs of raising and maintaining their children are reimbursing 56.9% of the planned accrued amounts. The main reason for the low reimbursement rate, according to Tamara Olekhnovich, is absenteeism committed by "unfortunate parents" employed at enterprises and organizations. The interlocutor believes that while state structures have refined the mechanism for implementing Decree No. 18 "On Additional Measures for State Protection of Children in Unfavorable Families," employers who have hired indebted individuals lack unified approaches to the practical implementation of the document, and some show complete indifference to both such employees and, most importantly, their children. This is precisely why it has been decided in the Vitebsk region to promote the positive experience of work collectives in increasing the responsibility of indebted individuals for the maintenance of their children under state care, fostering a healthy lifestyle, and the desire to regain parental rights.
Tamara Olekhnovich believes that OJSC "Tekhnolit Polotsk" can serve as a positive example. For conscientious work attitude, depending on the complexity and responsibility of the work, indebted individuals are granted an increase in piece rates of up to 300%. The collective agreement also enshrines other lump-sum incentive payments that apply to indebted individuals: payments for professional holidays, and for employees who lead a healthy lifestyle. At some enterprises in the region, in addition to material incentives, assistance in coding for alcohol dependence is provided, if the person desires it.
However, even with such support, violations of labor discipline, such as absenteeism, still occur, as the law does not provide for effective punishment measures. In Tamara Olekhnovich's opinion, more stringent administrative measures should be applied to malicious absentees.
For 11 months of the current year, 538 children received the status of children in need of state protection, 340 children were returned to their biological families. In total, there are 3610 children in the region left without parental care and under state provision, for whom parents are obliged to reimburse funds for upbringing and maintenance. Since the decree No. 18 came into force, 3783 children in the region have been recognized as in need of state protection, of which 2128 have been returned to their biological families, and 1338 have received the status of children left without parental care.