The retirement age begins gradually to rise in Belarus – TASS

MINSK, 1 Jan. /Offset. TASS Larisa klyuchnikova/. The retirement age in Belarus since the beginning of 2017 increases for three years. This includes the presidential decree “On improving pension security” dated April 11, 2016.

According to the document, annually, beginning 1 January 2017, the minimum age for registration of the labour pension will increase by six months and by the beginning of 2022 would amount to 58 for women and 63 years for men. In addition, in accordance with the decree of 31 December 2015 and annually on the same six months will increase the minimum insurance required for registration of the pension age (now he is 15 years old, and by 2025 will reach 20). Thus remained the same five-year period for socially vulnerable groups – mothers with five children, disabled children and their parents. Proportionate civil provides “a gradual increase in the age limit condition in the military service of the military.”

the Pension system should be reformed

As noted in the presidential press service, the document aims to improve retirement security in changing socio-demographic conditions. Pension system in Belarus is valid from the time of the Soviet Union, not changing for decades. Meanwhile, according to experts, socio-demographic conditions in the country changed significantly. Quite a large number of retired people (women aged 55 and men aged 60 years) still in working condition. In the country continue to work on the order of 660 thousand pensioners. The birth rate is markedly reduced, which leads to a reduction in the number of the working population. Experts also point to a positive growth trend in life expectancy in Belarus.

pensions need to save

At the beginning of 2016 in Belarus there were more than 2.35 million pensioners, and their number increases every year, increasing the strain on pension funds. Retaining the old system, most likely, experts say, soon had to increase pension contributions from employees of citizens or reduce the size of pensions. The new decree, the authorities hope, will keep pension expenditures at the current level, at least within the next five to eight years.

“Over the past year the number of residents of Belarus who have reached the age of 55-60 years, increased by more than 40 thousand. If not, it was decided to raise the retirement age in 2018, their number would have increased to 2.44 million Additional for payment of pensions would have to be sought in 2018 a significant amount of funds – about 3.5% of current spending on pensions, in 2019 and 5.2% in 2020 and 6.9%, and in 2030-m – almost 20%,” – said Deputy Minister of labor and social security Valery Kovalkov.