Labour Ministry: more than third of Belarus’ MPs are women

The Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection, Valery Kovalkov, spoke of the role of women in Belarus’ life at a recent press conference

“In the modern world, ensuring women's rights and taking measures to improve their social and economic status is a very important task for any state. More than five million ladies – or more than half of the country’s poeplulation – live in Belarus now. Women make a significant contribution to the national economy of Belarus, and – among those of working age – 85 percent are employed, mostly in education and healthcare. The economic status of a woman is growing annually, and this is not accidental: 40 percent of Belarusian ladies have higher education, and almost 30 percent have specialised secondary education. I can say that their level of education is higher than men's. Women hold more than 30 percent of the seats in the National Assembly, and our Belarusian Marina Vasilevskaya will soon fly into space. This once again confirms the versatility of our beautiful ladies: they are engaged in all industries,” Mr. Kovalkov said.

As noted by the official, the state does a lot to support women in the labour market and their entrepreneurial initiatives. “However, we understand that ladies often experience a double burden, devoting themselves entirely to work and family. Therefore, it is important to balance and create the most comfortable conditions for combining professional activity and family life," Mr. Kovalkov added.