‘We should make them work!’ Lukashenka orders to update ‘parasite’ decree by October

An updated version of the so-called decree on social parasitism has been already prepared, president Alyaksandr Lukashenka said on Thursday.

“There are at least 500,000 unemployed people in Belarus. About 200,000 of them are people with many children, ill or disabled people, those who want to work but cannot due to certain life circumstances. But what 300,000 people are doing? Therefore, Decree Nr 3 is meant for those 300,000 people who do not work. We should make them work. This is the ideology,” state-run news agency BelTA quotes him as saying.

Decree Nr 3 signed by Alyaksandr Lukashenka in April, 2015 established the obligation of the citizens of Belarus, foreign citizens permanently residing in Belarus, stateless persons, who did not participate in the financing of public spending or participated in such financing less than 183 days (six months – ed.) in the past year, to pay a fee of 20 basic units (appr. $230).

Lukashenka vs parasite tax critics (ENG subtitles)

The notorious decree caused a massive public outcry. In February-March, protests were held in a number of Belarusian cities and towns.

On March 25, Belarusians came to main squares of their cities to protest the ‘parasite’ law and celebrate the unofficial Freedom Day. But the Minsk riot police brutally dispersed the protest. Hundreds of people – even women, elderly people, journalists and ordinary passers-by – were arrested, battered and jailed.

Police beating protesters on March, 25 (ENG subs)

February 20 was the latest date for paying the so-called tax on parasitism. Over 50,000 Belarusians complied with the demand. In total, about 470,000 received tax office letters. In March, Alyaksandr Lukashenka said the so-called law on idlers would stay in force, but tax collection would be postponed for a year.

belsat.eu