Charges for the utilities will grow (especially for social parasites), fines, the retirement age will increase, and the builders will be paid a higher salary. Belsat.eu has made a list of novelties for the next year.
Citizens will cover almost 80% of utilities bill
Utilities bill for a family of three living in a regular one-bedroom apartment will increase for more than $ 5, the government promised. Tariffs will increase in two stages. Starting on January 1, it will be gas, electricity, cold water, sewage, major repairs to the house and cleaning that will increase by about $ 3.9. From June 1, another $ 1 will have to be paid for general heating and heating water. Now the subsidized tariff is 16.9259 BYN per 1 Gcal, and in the future it will be 18.4831 BYN.
Also, the full tariff will become higher (the one on which the “social parasites” will pay for heating and hot water) – from 81.42 BYN to 88.99 BYN.
According to officials, in 2019 we will pay already 83% of the total amount for utilities.
Electricity will be cheaper for gas-free homes
From January 1, the tariff for electricity used for general heating and water heating in homes without centralized gas supply will be 0.0335 BYN per 1 kWh. That is, you will have to pay 3 times less than now at the night rate, and almost 5 times less than the daily rate.
“Social parasites” will have to pay the full price of hot water and heating
Already from January 1, Belarusians who ended up in the so-called “parasite” data base meaning they were not able to confirm their employment but they do own an apartment, they will have to pay for heated water at the full rate, which is 5 times more than the subsidized one.
And from October 1, the “parasites” will also pay for heating and gas 100% of the amount.
Base value will increase from 24.5 BYN to 25.5 BYN
With this value, we measure fines and some payments. Along with the base value, there will increase the amounts of cash benefits for certain categories of citizens, scholarships, unemployment assistance, fines, etc.
Belarusians will be able to bring even fewer goods from abroad without duty
From January 1, the limits on the import of things from abroad for personal use will change. Currently, without paying the duty, one can import no more than 25 kilograms of things to Belarus for the amount of up to 500 euros. This is for those who travel abroad less than once every three months. For those who travel more often, the limits remain the same — a maximum of 20 kilograms and 300 euros.
For exceeding the norms, you will have to pay 30% of the goods’ value, but not less than 4 euros for each extra kilo. Restrictions do not apply to people’s own things.
You can order 31 kilograms for 200 euros by mail from abroad
That’s just the amount of parcels per month. One-time rate for a duty-free package will be as before — 22 euros and 10 kilograms.
From January 2, Poland will not issue “shopping” visas
Now you have to choose another purpose of the trip — tourism, economic activities, sports, cultural activities, visiting, medical treatment, education, etc. All these goals differ from that of the “shopping”. It will be necessary to submit proof of residence in Poland — a hotel reservation or an invitation from friends or relatives. Be sure to confirm the solvency.
Retirement age will increase by another six months
From January 1, 2019, only men who have reached 61 years and 6 months and women who have reached 56 years and 6 months will be able to go on a well-deserved rest.
The retirement age will continue to rise for six months every year until 2022, until it reaches 63 years for men and 58 years for women.
Also from January 1, the minimum working period required for obtaining a full labor pension will also grow. From the new year it will be 17 years, and will also increase until 2025, until it reaches 20 years.
Minimum wage will increase
From January 1, it will be 330 BYN. This is 25 BYN more than now. The “minimal pay” in Belarus is the minimal amount that an employer must pay an employee for a full-time job.
Salaries for builders will increase
From January 1, the cost of a man-hour of an employee of the fourth category will increase by 35% and amount to 7.03 BYN for commissioning works and for 8.15 BYN during construction and installation work. Thus, the expected level of salary of the builder of the 4th category will reach 1,369.2 BYN.
Updated Tax Code will enter into force
The new version of the Tax Code will come into force on January 1. It provides for the following changes: simplification of tax administration, changing the approach to the accrual of interest, cancellation of the tax rate on unfinished property, cancellation of the right of local Councils of Deputies to increase the tax rate on real estate facilities or land plots up to ten times
with facilities that are not used or used inefficiently.
Pensions and military salaries will grow
From January 1, military retirees will receive pensions that will be about 6% more. Also, the salaries of conscripts will change. In the new year, they will receive from 29.25 BYN to 62.79 BYN per month.
Unemployed people will be able to receive sick leaves
From January 31, sick leave documents will be issued in a new way. This change will affect, for example, parents on maternity leave and parents of disabled children. To get a sick leave, they will no longer need to confirm that the child goes to kindergarten. A person who is not registered for child care can also receive a sick leave.
In addition, persons who take care of a child under 14 years old or a disabled child under 18 years old will be able to stay on the sick leave for one day to get to their place of residence when receiving medical care in the hospital. It will be possible to take advantage of this norm only if it is impossible to return home from the hospital on the day of discharge.
Under the new rules, the unemployed will also be able to get sick leave. It is noteworthy that the information about the person’s unemployment status will not be transferred from the clinic to the database of the unemployed.
Also certificates of temporary disability will be issued to persons who care for disabled people of group I. And in the future there are promises to introduce electronic hospital sheets. Forms for them have already been developed.
Katsyaryna Mikhalchyk, belsat.eu
