Childcare allowance will be brought closer to the average salary, maternity leave will be extended by 14 days - M. Shchetkina

January 27, Minsk /Elena Prus - BELTA/. Belarus plans to bring the child care allowance closer to the average wage and increase maternity leave by 14 days. This was announced today in Geneva by the Minister of Labor and Social Protection, Marianna Shchetkina, while presenting the seventh periodic report of the Republic of Belarus to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, a BELTA correspondent reports. According to the minister, the range of social services for families with disabled children will be expanded, housing accessibility for large families will be ensured, and assistance will be provided to them in repaying preferential loans. Thus, the state intends to continue strengthening social support for families. "Belarus has fulfilled the Millennium Development Goal related to the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger ahead of schedule," stated Marianna Shchetkina. "Despite the global economic crisis, the government has not allowed a decrease in the level of social guarantees for families with children. Moreover, the state has found resources for a phased increase in the volume of state support for families." Over Br3 trillion (about $1 billion) from state social insurance funds were allocated solely for benefit payments in 2008-2010. Over 650,000 residents of the country received targeted social assistance over three years. It should be noted that the system of material support for families in connection with the birth and upbringing of children also includes guarantees in the sphere of pension, labor, housing, and tax legislation. "All types of state support (family benefits, targeted social assistance, free meals) are provided to both the mother and the father of the child," the minister informed. "The state is consciously shaping public perception that the participation of women and men in raising children is distributed on an equal basis." The main measures of state policy are focused on creating the most favorable and balanced conditions for motherhood and the realization of women's potential in the socio-economic and socio-political life of the country, emphasized Marianna Shchetkina. As a result, from 2007 to 2009, the total fertility rate increased from 1.28 to 1.44, life expectancy at birth increased from 69.4 to 70.5 years, and infant mortality decreased from 6.1 to 4.7 ppm. In 2009, the mortality rate of children under 5 years of age approached the level of economically developed countries and amounted to 6.2 cases per 1,000 live births. According to UNICEF estimates, Belarus is among the countries with low child and infant mortality rates and surpasses CIS countries and a number of European countries in this indicator. The maternal mortality rate in the republic was 1 per 100,000 live births, which corresponds to the level of developed countries. The Minister of Labor and Social Protection is convinced that this became possible thanks to the consistent implementation of a socially oriented policy, characterized by a high level of budget allocations for subsidizing the healthcare and education systems. Thus, expenditures on social policy in 2010 amounted to 11.7% of GDP, and in 2011 they will reach 13.7% of GDP (for the education system - 4.5% and 5.5% of GDP, respectively, for the healthcare system - 3.4% and 3.9% of GDP). -0-