Retirement age will not be increased, says trade union leader

"Nobody will increase the retirement age in Belarus. The Belarusian Federation of Trade Unions is against, and it will keep this issue under control", Leanid Kozik, the chairman of the Belarusian Federation of Trade Unions, said on January 23 addressing workers at the Minsk Motor Works.

During the visit to the plant, Kozik said that the plant's administration managed to maintain almost all of the social programs. Single mothers keep receiving assistance; leave and retirement bonuses have been preserved. The average wage at the works in December 2008 amounted to Br1,139,000 ($650), reports Belapan