English

Ramanchuk promises higher pay, less government regulation

Yaraslaw Ramanchuk has promised to increase wages and pensions and cut down on government regulation if elected president, BelaPAN said.

The United Civic Party's presidential nominee criticized the government for too low wages for doctors and school teachers and compulsory job assignments for university graduates in his second and final radio address to the voters broadcast early on Monday.

The economist pledged to increase retirement benefits to 43 percent of the average monthly wage, raise the average pay of young professionals to $400 and of physical education teachers at schools and coaches at junior sports centers to $500, as well as secure fare-free public transport services for retirees and university students as early as next year.

He expressed certainty that Belarus would be able to draw billions of dollars in foreign investment if excessive red tape was cut.

According to him, the Belarusian economy has "too many officials and bureaucrats and too little enterprise." "And where monopolies are, there are also corruption and thriving bureaucrats," he stressed.

"Competition is key to stable prices," Mr. Ramanchuk said. "If the government stops stifling manufacturers and entrepreneurs with various sorts of licenses, quotas, permits and audits, we will have a diversity of goods and services available at the lowest prices."

The presidential candidate slammed the National Bank of Belarus for its move to increase drastically the amount of cash in circulation this year. "The pleasure from the wage hike will not be long. We're in for high inflation next year, while the Belarusian rubel will further weaken against both the dollar and the euro," he warned.

"I guarantee that a new government and National Bank will stop making counterfeit money. Prices will be rising by no more than two percent a year," Mr. Ramanchuk promised.
The economist likened Belarus to a "strong, enduring horse on which they have put a tight bridle and heavy bags, which has had her legs tied and has been told to run and do so faster than its neighbors."

He said that his government would manage to find the money for the reforms through easier rules for private businesses, a simplified taxation system, privatization and a cutback on expenditures on bureaucrats.

"Today our entire economy looks like plugging holes. If you look at the economy, you see nothing but patches. Let's say 'no' to the continual repair of the old," Mr. Ramanchuk said.