Lukashenko discusses proposals to recalibrate Social Security Fund, pension system

Plans to streamline the work of the Social Security Fund and measures to increase support for pensioners and disabled children were in focus of the meeting hosted by Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko on 10 November, BelTA has learned.

Labor and Social Security Minister Irina Kostevich was the keynote speaker. Attending the meeting were also Deputy Prime Minister Igor Petrishenko who oversees social security matters, Deputy Head of the Belarus President Administration Maksim Yermolovich, Finance Minister Yuri Seliverstov, Minsk Mayor Vladimir Kukharev and Minsk Oblast Governor Aleksandr Turchin.

“Our today’s conversation will focus on proposals to bring some improvements to our social security system, the economic sector and the overall system of government in our state. Perhaps, this is not the biggest and not the most important matter when it comes to streamlining the system of administration. However, this matter is crucial for ensuring social security, providing social services. Indeed, it concerns the most vulnerable groups. These are people of retirement age, people who have found themselves in a difficult situation and need our help to get out of it. Some of them have got sick, some have disabilities and so on,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

He noted that the meeting will revolve around the work of the Social Security Fund: “There are proposals to streamline the work of the fund and related structures that are closely related to the fund because they provide services to population groups that I have mentioned. When some improvements are suggested, I always ask this question: is it really necessary to do it, what prompted you to bring up this issue and what is the essence of the proposals and the root cause of the problem? This does not mean that we should not improve the government structure, individual areas, industries. I have already spoken about this, this must be done through upgrading the system instead of breaking it. But this should be done only if it is really needed. Therefore, the first question to be answered is: do we need to recalibrate the Social Security Fund and other structures that assign and pay pensions, allowances, and so on. Is it necessary?”

With regard to pension benefits, it is proposed to delegate all the responsibilities related to pensions to the Social Security Fund. The proposal is also debatable.