In Belarus, the day of “voluntary-compulsory” work is determined by the Council of Ministers. It will be done to clean up the territories.
Subbotniks (or joint clean-up events) are held throughout the country. Every year, in the squares, parks and courtyards you can see people with brooms and rakes. A third of Belarusians — representatives of state authorities, public organizations, labor collectives, students, pensioners and even Lukashenka himself — go out for cleaning.
Last year, the head of state worked at the construction site of the Olympic Training Center for Rhythmic Gymnastics. Earlier, he worked at the reconstruction of the “Dynamo” stadium, the construction of a maternity home, a children’s polyclinic, an aqua park with VIP lodges.
In 2017, the money earned at the subbotnik was promised to be spent on the reconstruction of historical monuments, and part of it was transferred to the Ministry of Finance of Belarus. This year, 50% of the money will be spent on the construction of agro-towns, memorial complexes, children’s and sports camps. The remainder will go to the purchase of medical equipment in the City Clinical Emergency Hospital.
The Belarusians, who will work on April 21, will have their money withheld from wages “with their consent in the amounts determined voluntarily by the collective.”
Where did subbotniks come from?
Subbotniks arose in the spring of 1919 in response to Lenin’s appeal to improve the work of railways. The initiators of the first subbotnik were Communists of the Moscow-sorting depot of the Moscow-Kazan railway. The first subbotnik was attended by 15 people.
The very concept of “subbotnik” was spread only in the Soviet Union and is now known only in countries that emerged after its breakup.
In post-Soviet space, State subbotniks are held only in Uzbekistan.
An alternative to Subbotniks around the world is the work of volunteer movements and non-governmental public organizations that do such work daily without coercion and for voluntary donations. But in our country such a model has never been supported by the state.
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