OREANDA-NEWS  On 24 February was announced, that in December 2009 the average salary in Belarus should be 5% higher in US dollar terms than the average salary paid in 2008, First Vice Premier of Belarus Vladimir Semashko told a session of the National Council for Labour and Social Affairs on February 20.

Preserving jobs and the level of salaries is the key goal today, stressed the First Vice Premier. “These matters are interrelated because the most promising and active workers tend to leave first when salaries are poor in a company or an industry. If we lose this labour and intellectual resource, we will virtually lose enterprises,” said Vladimir Semashko.

He pointed out that cutting salaries or wasting workforce is not an option.

The natural gas price Belarus pays may total USD 100 per 1,000 cubic metres by the end of the year, First Vice Premier of Belarus Vladimir Semashko told a session of the National Council for Labour and Social Affairs.

Taking into account oil price changes the gas price may drop as well, explained the First Vice Premier. “If the oil price continues to stay under USD 50 per barrel, by the end of the year we may get the price for gas at USD 100 per 1,000 cubic metres,” he said.

Vladimir Semashko reminded, Belarus’ development forecast expects the gas price to be at USD 148 per 1,000 cubic metres. The increase from last year’s price of USD 128 is small, added Vladimir Semashko. This is why electricity tariffs in US dollar terms have not been raised in Belarus, only heating prices have been.