The results of the work of labor, employment and social protection bodies were discussed in Vitebsk
He began his speech with issues of employment, noting that the positive dynamics in a number of sectors of the economy and the effective implementation of the state program "Labor Market and Employment Promotion" allowed reducing the number of registered unemployed to 0.2%.
– According to the results of last year, almost 70% of the unemployed who applied to us were employed, which is 16.8 thousand people, – Alexander Khristoforov announced the facts. – 424 people were sent for training, 125 received grants to start their own businesses.
Special attention is paid to citizens who are unable to compete in the labor market; 1.5 thousand of them have been employed. Ensuring employment for people with disabilities is under separate control.
The situation in the labor market is not so acute: there are 11 thousand vacancies, and 798 unemployed people are registered.
The results of the sector's work were assessed as good by the Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection, Valery Kovalkov, who was present at the meeting.
– But this is no reason to relax, – the distinguished guest warned. – Yes, there are 11 thousand vacancies registered in the region and less than 800 unemployed. But if we look at the jobs offered to job seekers from the perspective of potential wages, it becomes clear: vacancies remain unfilled, partly due to low wages.
The Deputy Minister suggested discussing the fact that educated young people with high demands on the organization of the workplace, the technologies and equipment used at the enterprise are currently entering the labor market. That is, those who have their smartphones literally fused with their palms do not want to go back to the past, to work on technically and morally obsolete, energy-intensive and low-productive equipment. Therefore, enterprises and organizations interested in their development and rejuvenation of their teams must keep up with the times.
The region has achieved positive dynamics in wage growth, with a target of 109.8% and an actual figure of 114.2 percent. The average salary in the region in 2022 was 1363 rubles. However, it should be noted that inflation growth exceeded the growth of real wages. The situation was only stabilized in the second half of the year when price regulation was introduced.
The collegium addressed not only the amount of wages but also their timely payment.
An equally important area of activity is occupational safety and health measures. Marina Briksa, Head of the Department of Labor, Employment, and Social Protection of the Rossony District Executive Committee, shared useful practical experience in this regard via video link.
No cases of industrial injuries have been registered in Rossony, and no occupational diseases in the region.
Alexander Khristoforov noted that a multi-tiered pension system is being developed in the region. It includes pension provision, occupational pension insurance for employees, employer-sponsored corporate pension programs, and citizens' pension savings. It is necessary to work more actively with citizens of retirement and pre-retirement age, explaining the benefits of additional pensions.
– There are 327 thousand recipients of pensions and benefits registered, – the speaker announced the statistics. – Expenditures on the payment of pensions, benefits, and compensations amounted to 2.2 billion rubles.
Vitebsk region is always at the forefront in terms of social support for the elderly and people with disabilities. According to Valery Kovalchuk, it can even be considered a "trendsetter" for all new types of social services.
Last year, 11 social service points were opened in rural areas, and three departments of territorial centers for social services for the population were established. Of the 24 new social protection facilities that appeared in the country in 2022, 15 are located in the Vitebsk region. All people with disabilities have the opportunity to undergo free rehabilitation and habilitation. About 7,000 people with disabilities received social rehabilitation aids.
There are 15 boarding houses and 20 departments with round-the-clock stay operating in the region, accommodating over 4,000 people. More than 4 million rubles were allocated and utilized for strengthening the material and technical base of these social institutions.
In the current year, all structural divisions and institutions subordinate to the Committee for Labor, Employment, and Social Protection of the Regional Executive Committee continue their good initiatives. Alexander Khristoforov has directed them to work consistently in accordance with legislation and state programs.