The Government of Belarus, employers, and trade unions signed a general agreement for 2011-2013.

December 30, Minsk /Lyudmila Sats - BELTA/. The Government of Belarus, republican associations of employers and trade unions have signed a general agreement for 2011-2013, a BELTA correspondent reports. As First Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Vladimir Semashko noted, there were no significant disputes between the parties during the preparation of the general agreement. "We proceeded from the real capabilities of the Belarusian economy, from the promising directions of its development adopted at the IV All-Belarusian People's Congress, and from the tasks set by the Head of State," he said. Chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus Leonid Kozik emphasized that the previous general agreement was implemented during a difficult period for the country, associated with the global financial crisis. In his opinion, the Government of Belarus made maximum efforts to implement this agreement. As for the agreement for 2011-2013, Leonid Kozik noted that during its preparation, "it was difficult to reconcile positions so that the figures turned out to be realistic." Of course, the trade unions wanted a higher wage growth and lower tariffs for housing and communal services and other services for the population. "But we reached a compromise based on the reality of the Belarusian economy's development. People will receive more income, pensions, and benefits. The government has developed a set of measures to support low-income and young families," he said. Leonid Kozik also added: "We were very interested in the minimum wage. We believe it cannot be low. The minimum wage must constantly grow to reduce the number of low-paid citizens." According to the Chairman of the FTUB, the real incomes of citizens will cover the expenses for maintaining a family. Leonid Kozik also thanked the employers' associations for their principled stance on preserving jobs and enterprises. In turn, Chairman of the Confederation of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (Employers) Anatoly Kharlap thanked the government for supporting various sectors of the economy. According to him, the new agreement is a new level of responsibility for all parties. "When there is a common approach and a compromise solution, there is confidence that we will be able to achieve the planned results," Anatoly Kharlap stressed. Presenting the draft general agreement, Deputy Minister of Economy of Belarus Andrei Tur noted that the provisions defining economic policy, wages, income and living standards of the population, social guarantees, labor market development and employment guarantees, and the state of labor protection and environmental safety play a leading role in this agreement. The provisions of the document affect the interests of the majority of the republic's population. In accordance with the agreement, the annual GDP growth should correspond to the parameters of the socio-economic development program of Belarus for 2011-2015. At the same time, the parties to social partnership should jointly strive to develop the economy and strengthen the financial position of its sectors by creating macroeconomic conditions for stimulating economic growth, structural restructuring, and thereby improving the living standards of the population. To this end, the practice of stimulating the development and implementation of investment projects in high-tech and science-intensive industries and economic sectors that ensure economic efficiency will be continued. The task of strengthening the financial position of organizations remains relevant. An active social policy will be pursued to further improve the level and quality of life of the population. Its most important tasks are to increase the real level of all types of monetary incomes of the population and to provide effective support to socially vulnerable categories of citizens. Measures are also envisaged to increase the income level of the population, including real wages as the main source of their formation and an important incentive for activating labor activity. In 2011-2013, it is planned to ensure the growth of real wages and average wages in accordance with the calculated balance indicators of the forecast for socio-economic development of Belarus. In the area of improving the pension system, the minimum retirement pension will be increased. Provisions are also envisaged aimed at developing the labor market and promoting employment of the population as a whole, preserving jobs and creating new ones, as well as measures of social protection and support for the population of the republic. -0-