Lukashenka: ‘Parasite’ decree not cancelled, make people work!


The so-called parasite decree has never been canceled, Belarus president Alyaksandr Lukashenka said at Thursday’s meeting with local officials.

“This is your document! You should determine who does not work, but must work and make them all work on the spot! It is the constitutive essence of the decree! It is not the capital from where one should manage these processes,” he said.

According to the Belarusian leader, it is up to local officials to deal with those who deal with ‘idlers’:

“One needs help, another should be taken to work by hand, some should get new skills or master a new profession, but someone should simply be bulldozed! You know what kind of men the unemployed are, I also know, I remember it since the Soviet period. Therefore, employment is a very important issue. One should offer jobs to people, create jobs,” he stressed.

Moreover, he reminded them of  the task to increase the average salary up to 1,000 Belarusian rubles.

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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.

НМ, belsat.eu

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