There are plans to raise the first class pay rate in Belarus in the near future, Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov told the media after the meeting with the head of state, BelTA has learned.

“Considering the personnel optimization that has been currently undertaken in the state administration bodies and law enforcement and security agencies and also the work to reduce costs in the public sector in general, the government has prepared some proposals. I think the president will examine them in the near future, and a decision regarding the increase in the first class pay rate will be adopted. I will not voice the figures but, I think, the decision will be taken literally in a day or two,” Andrei Kobyakov said.

According to him, during the meeting Alexander Lukashenko instructed to pay particular attention to those categories of public sector employees who have minimal income. “As the opportunities to increase the wages emerge, this category of workers will be a priority,” the prime minister said.

Andrei Kobyakov also noted that real incomes continue to grow in the country. This indicator is projected to increase by 2.7% by the year-end. “Enterprises and industries have now the opportunity to consider raising wages. The requirement remains unchanged for the private sector. The private businesses earn themselves and should have the labor productivity growth above the wage growth. This requirement is observed,” he noted.