Labour Ministry: the family is in the heart of Belarusian state’s attention

As noted by the Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Protection, Valery Kovalkov, during a press conference dedicated to the forthcoming Slavic Forum of Families, the state renders all possible support to families in Belarus – and this includes not only financial benefits

“As you know, when three or more children are born, the state creates conditions for families to improve their housing conditions. Young people sometimes try to postpone the birth of children to a later date in order to build a career. Meanwhile, the legislation is being changed to enable family members to combine work and parenthood: i.e. it is possible to work part-time. In addition, ‘a paternity leave’ has recently been introduced, and an employer is obliged to provide fourteen days off to fathers (as an unpaid leave),” Mr. Kovalkov said.

The Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Protection admitted with regret that trends alien to Belarusians’ traditional ideology are increasingly penetrating into the country. “We hear about same-sex marriages, or that a child is not needed and people should better live for themselves. Meanwhile, our Constitution stipulates that marriage is a union of a man and a woman, and the family is in the heart of our state's concern,” he noted.