Page 15 - BELRptNov18

4.5 Labour and income
4.5.1 Labour market, unemployment dynamics
4.5.1 Nominal wages dynamics
According to the latest survey Belarusian individuals with a monthly income between BYN300.1 (around $150) and BYN500 ($240) accounted for 44.6% of the population in January-March, versus 17% with monthly income of between BYN200.1 and BYN300, and the better off individuals with a monthly income of between BYN500.1 and BYN600 that made up 11.6% of the population in the first quarter of 2018. Those with over BYN600.1 made up another 22.6%.
Having a little spare money to spend is key and real disposable income (the money left after food and utility payments) in Belarus increased by 7.4% y/y in January-April , according to news agency BELTA. Real disposable cash earnings are expected to grow by 3.4% y/y in 2019, according to Eurotorg.
Nearly 4 million people in 70 regions where the subsistence minimum is below the federal level will receive a federal supplement to their pension in 2019, chairman of the Pension Fund of Russia (PFR) Anton Drozdov said on October 24. This measure will affect 3.8mn people, the average amount of additional payments will be a little more than RUB1900 ($28.91). The government plans to allocate RUB86bn ($1.3bn) for these purposes next year and then RUB70bn every year in 2020 and 2021, said Drozdov. These payments are aimed at maintaining the level of pensions in the regions at a level not lower than the subsistence minimum.
The State Duma has adopted in first reading the draft budget of the Pension Fund for 2019-2021. Revenues of the Pension Fund of Russia in
15 BELARUS Country Report November 2018 www.intellinews.com