A new procedure for organizing temporary employment of youth in their free time from studies has been approved in Belarus

June 25, Minsk /Elena Prus - BELTA/. The Regulation on the Procedure for Organizing and Financing Temporary Employment of Youth Studying in Educational Institutions during their Free Time from Studies has been approved in Belarus. This decision is contained in the government decree of June 23 of the current year No. 958, the Council of Ministers Apparatus informed a BELTA correspondent. The document enters into force after its official publication. Commenting on Decree No. 958, Zhanna Shchemeleva, consultant of the Main Department of Employment Policy and Demography of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, noted that it was developed in pursuance of the Law of December 7, 2009 "On the Fundamentals of State Youth Policy". The state employment service has been organizing temporary employment of youth during their free time from studies and during holidays since 1999. Practice and experience in organizing and financing this area of activity have been accumulated, and partnerships have been established with education authorities, internal affairs bodies, commissions for juvenile affairs, and economic entities. The new version of the regulation defines the procedure for organizing and financing temporary employment of youth, the purpose of which is to involve young people aged 14 to 31 in socially useful work and to acquire work skills. Employment is provided through temporary hiring for employer vacancies, including temporarily created additional positions, as well as through participation in student work crews. The procedure and conditions for financing the costs of temporary employment of youth by labor, employment, and social protection bodies have been determined. In particular, it is stipulated that the state employment service finances the costs for employers of state-funded organizations at the expense of the extra-budgetary Social Protection Fund of the Population of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, allocated for the organization of temporary employment of youth. Expenses for the purchase of workwear, equipment, tools, materials, labor book forms, and youth wages can be financed from the Fund's resources. The finished products are used by the employer for its own needs or transferred to state-funded organizations free of charge. The document for the first time defines that local executive and administrative bodies can finance measures to ensure temporary employment of youth at the expense of funds allocated for the implementation of youth policy. For the first time, construction crews are mentioned in the regulation on temporary employment of youth. The new version specifies the deadlines for determining the facilities (types and volumes of work) where student crews are allowed to work. By the way, the decision to create a student crew is coordinated within ten days by the regional, Minsk city executive committees. A necessary list of documents for submission to the youth affairs department of regional executive committees, the Minsk City Executive Committee is also provided. The creation and termination of a student crew, the powers of the leader, the rights and obligations of the participants of the student crew, and labor protection are carried out in the manner determined by the Ministry of Education in agreement with the relevant state bodies. It is reminded that student crews are formed to perform a specific production task. Educational institutions, the Public Association "Belarusian Republican Youth Union", and other youth public associations must determine the contingent of young citizens going as part of student crews annually no later than April 1. The decision to create a student crew is coordinated by regional executive committees and the Minsk City Executive Committee within ten days, free of charge, and is valid for the duration of the student crew's activity. Zhanna Shchemeleva reported that funding for the organization of youth temporary employment has increased by almost 4.5 times since 2002, and by more than 2 times over the last four years. Moreover, youth are provided with the opportunity to work year-round, not just during the summer period. In 2009, almost 40,000 students and pupils were employed during holidays and free time from studies, of which 84% were pupils in grades 8-11. Br10 billion was spent from the Social Protection Fund for these purposes (524 contracts were concluded with various organizations). Priority is given to orphans, youth from single-parent, large, low-income families, as well as adolescents registered with juvenile commissions. For 2010, it is planned to provide temporary employment during free time from studies for more than 24,000 people, and Br9.5 billion is planned to be allocated for these purposes. The most common types of temporary employment include repair and construction work in school classrooms and lecture halls, landscaping, improvement of educational institutions, sewing garments, making soft toys and souvenirs, and growing agricultural products. -0-