What Awaits Belarusians In July
- 23.06.2022, 8:32
The list of innovations and changes has been released.
Traditionally, in mid-July, the Belarusians will have to go through a lot of innovations, changes and amendments. The COVID-19 allowance for doctors will be canceled, but new ones will be added. Pensioners will have to get accounts in state banks, the life of fishermen and some types of businesses will be simplified, while everyone else will face hot water cuts and new "hundreds" in ATMs, reports onliner.by.
Covid Allowances for Medical Workers to be Abolished
From July 1, health workers will no longer be paid covid bonuses, which used to make them the highest-paid category of state employees. This is associated with "stabilization of the situation with coronavirus in the country and switching polyclinics and hospitals to normal operation mode," reported trade unions in Belarus.
At the same time, new incentive payments will be set for all health workers. It is promised that their salaries will increase with this.
The new allowances will be given depending on the complexity and intensity of work. The biggest allowances are foreseen for doctors and nurses in anaesthesiology and intensive care units, district services, hospital emergency departments and stroke units.
Goods in Foreign Online Shops May Become More Expensive
The thing is that from July 1, foreign Internet-shops in Belarus will have to pay 20% VAT. Most likely, most sellers will include the increased costs in the cost of goods.
According to the calculations of our Finance Ministry, the innovation will increase the budget by about Br40 million.
National Bank Issues New Banknote
Since July 1, the National Bank is releasing new banknotes of Br100.
The changes will not be too noticeable: the inscription "Head of the Board" and the facsimile of Piotr Prakapovich's signature will be removed, the year of 2009 will be replaced by 2022, while the Radziwiłł family's castle in Niasvizh will be renovated and its name will be added to the note.
According to the regulator, the new banknotes are needed to update the design and security complex of the banknotes of the 2009 pattern, as well as to replace old and damaged banknotes with the ones fit for use.
It will be Allowed to Temporarily Suspend Depreciation
The government has temporarily granted organizations and sole traders the right to exclude depreciation from costs from July 1, 2022 to December 31, 2023.
The authorities believe that this will reduce the cost of products and thereby improve competitiveness.
Some Belarusians will be Obliged to Open a Basic Account in the State Bank
Belarusians who will retire after July 1 and receive payments not in cash but on the card will have to open a basic account. The payments will be transferred to it. The pensioner will also be issued a card of the "Belkart" system.
Basic accounts may be opened in banks with the state share of more than 50%. Here's their list:
Belarusbank;
Belahraprombank;
Belinvestbank;
Bank Dabrabyt.
The innovations will not affect those who receive pensions through Belposhta or the bank (they will be required to open a basic account until July 1, 2025).
Changes in Paying for Public Utilities
Another update of the "parasite" database is on the way. If you don't work for a long time (or work abroad, except for five EAEU member countries) and don't want to pay the full rate for communal services(and not about 80% like others), you have to file your documents to the commission for promotion of employment until July 21.
However, there is some good news. For example you will not see in July the traditionally increased because of the heat supply rent bills. A month ago they decided not to raise the rates for the first time in a long time, which may save about 9% of the cost of heating services.
It was also decided to cancel the planned increase in electricity tariffs. They will remain at the level of January 1, 2022. However, you will find an increased sum for gas on your utility bill because they have abolished the differentiation of tariffs for winter and summer in July.
The gradual increase in prices is needed in order to move away from state-subsidized "utilities" and thus to pay 100% tariffs for everything. At the end of 2020, they were supposed to reach 83.2%, but didn't do so - in 2022, the authorities expect to bring that figure to 81%.
Cutting Off Hot Water
It has been happening for so long that everyone seems to have already put up with it and forgotten what the point of the whole thing is. So, there will be no hot water in the middle of summer along a whole list of addresses. People of the Republican Clinical Medical Centre (81 Zhdanovichy village council) will be the first to stay without hot water in July: the water will be turned off for them on the 4th of July.
From July 5, the water will be also turned off in Maskouski district. The full list of addresses and the schedule of cut-offs in Minsk for August is available here. For your convenience, search for your address using the shortcut Ctrl+F.
CT and Reserve Days, Submission of Documents to Universities
The centralized testing continues, and July is, as usual, a hot month for any applicant. This year the testing schedule is as follows:
July 2 - History of Belarus;
July 4 - Geography;
July 6 - World History (modern times).
There are some alternative dates for those who will not be able to pass the CT on the main day: July 12 and 14 (Belarusian and Russian), July 12 and 16 (other subjects). Registration deadlines for the CT on reserve days are July 2 to 9. The start time of the centralized testing on the main and reserve days is 11:00 am.
Universities will start accepting documents on the 18th of July.
Fishing will Get Easier
At the end of May, many bans on fishing were lifted, making it easier to fish. The only thing that will be banned in the summer is catfishing.
On 29th of July, the new rules for recreational fishing will be enforced, which means that there will be more easings of requirements. One of the new rules is a ban on renting water bodies in a settlement, if the lake shore is partially included in its boundaries.
But it is allowed to use not more than two nets or "televisions" of 1×1,5 meters in size and with a mesh pitch of not more than 30 millimeters. Previously, it was strictly forbidden to use them.
The National Bank will Stop Buying and Selling Precious Metals
Starting from 1 July, the regulator will stop buying and selling bullion made of precious metals, such as gold, silver and platinum.
Transactions will stop with legal entities, as well as with sole proprietors and individuals. But buying and selling will still be done with banks.