The devaluation of the ruble and the general economic crisis in the Russian Federation have led to the fact that wages in Belarus and Russia in dollar terms in many sectors have now become almost the same. This is shown by the calculations of the Higher School of Economics and the Institute of Social Policy. The study used both the assessment of nominal wages and the accounting of purchasing power parity.
If in 2011 the Russian Federation overtook the CIS countries by 40%, now this gap with Belarus does not exist at all. And this is due to the fall in real incomes of Russians. In January 2016, the average salary in Belarus in rubles amounted to 21.98 thousand. Just this month, the national currency was denominated for the third time in the history of independence.
What is the salary in Belarus: general information
Until 1991, the country was part of the USSR. In January, the salary in Belarus was 266 rubles, in December - 1109. It should be understood that in 1994, 2000 and 2016. The national currency was denominated 10, 1000 and 10,000 times, respectively. The exchange rate of the Belarusian ruble ( ruble ) on 10/20/16 to the Russian one equals 1 to 32.84.
From the very beginning, inflation went at a fairly high rate. In December 1994, the average salary in Belarus reached 248.922 thousand rubles. The denomination, held in August 1994, helped only in part. The inflation rate continued to grow.
Already in September 1994, salaries again began to be calculated in six-digit numbers. In June 1995, the pre-reform level was reached. In December 1999, the average salary in Belarus amounted to 34.871.899 rubles. And this is when the exchange rate to the Russian currency is 1 to 0.000077. That is, in rubles it is 2865, that is, two times less than in 1994.
After the denomination, the average salary in January 2000 was 36.659 rubles. The exchange rate to the Russian currency was 1 to 301.7. Six-figure salaries in Belarus began to be calculated due to inflation in March 2001. However, the rate of depreciation of the currency decreased significantly. After another denomination in January 2016, the average salary in Belarus was 655.22 rubles. In rubles - 21517.42. In August 2016, the average salary amounted to 750.3 rubles.
Denomination Features
After gaining independence and introducing its own national currency, the country experienced tremendous inflation. To date, three denominations have already been held in Belarus:
- In August 1994. Then the salary "decreased" by 10 times. In July, it amounted to 815.459 Belarusian rubles, and in August - 89.723. The exchange rate to the Russian currency at that time was 1 to 0.0185.
- In January 2000. Then the Belarusian ruble was denominated 1000 times. If in December 1999 the average salary was fabulous 34,871,899 belorussians. rubles, then in January 2000 it was “reduced” to 36.659.
- In January 2016. If in December 2015 the average salary was 74.224.092 Belarusian rubles, then at the beginning of 2016 it was only 655.2. Thus, the Belarusian currency was denominated this time 10,000 times.
The latest denomination has significantly strengthened the currency. And the crisis in the Russian economy allows us to talk about the excess of the level of Belarusian salaries in dollar terms over Russian ones in the near future. And this is the forecast of the Higher School of Economics. Interestingly, back in 2011 Belarus lagged behind Russia by as much as 40% in this indicator.
By region
In 2015, according to the National Statistics Committee of the Republic of Belarus, real wages increased only in the capital by 1.1%. In all other regions, it decreased by an average of 3%. The average salary in the country in 2015 was 6.7 million Belarusian rubles. The exchange rate to the Russian currency during this period was 1 to 38.78. The regional section of salaries was as follows:
- The capital is 8.872.477 Belarusian rubles.
- Minsk region - 6.667.886.
- Gomel - 6.095.879.
- Grodno - 5.920.433.
- Vitebsk - 5.805.342.
- Mogilev - 5.799.081.
- Brest - 5.757.018.
By areas of economic activity
The largest salaries in Belarus in rubles were paid to financiers. They received almost 300 thousand in Russian currency. If we put the spheres of economic activity in descending order of salaries in Belarus, we get the following list:
- Financial activities.
- Operations with real estate.
- Mining industry.
- Research and development.
- Construction.
- Production and distribution of gas, electricity and water.
- Communication and transport.
- Industry.
- Manufacturing industries.
- Trade, car repair and household appliances.
- Healthcare
- Agriculture.
- Education.
- Hotel business.
- Fishing.
In the capital
If we consider the situation in the city of Minsk in 2015, then the average salary here amounted to 344 million rubles. The highest paid were employees in the financial sector. If we consider the salary in each of the sectors in the capital, then the five most expensive professions are as follows:
- Financial activities. The average salary in Minsk in rubles is 542 million.
- Operations with real estate. The average salary in Minsk in rubles is 493 million.
- Research and development. The average salary in Minsk in rubles is 357 million.
- Production and distribution of gas, electricity and water. The average salary in Minsk in rubles is 352 million.
- Construction. The average salary in Minsk in rubles is 352 million.
TOP 10
According to 2013 data, the largest salary in Belarus was offered in the following positions:
- Marketing Director at a mobile app development company. Estimated earnings - 8.000 US dollars. In December 2013, the ratio of US and Russian currencies was 1 to 32.88.
- Wholesale sales manager in a holding. Estimated earnings - 6.850 US dollars.
- Financial Director of a management company in a large distribution and logistics group. Estimated salary - 5,000 US dollars.
- CFO at a large manufacturing company. Estimated income - $ 5,000.
- Director of transport and warehouse logistics in a large retail network. Estimated income - $ 5,000.
- Director of IT department in a large foreign company. Estimated income - 4,000-5,000 US dollars.
- Territorial manager in a wholesale company. Estimated income - $ 4,000.
- Marketing Director in a distribution and logistics holding. Estimated earnings - 4,000 US dollars.
- Director of Property Management. Estimated income - 4,000 US dollars.
- Director of the company for the construction of energy centers and boiler houses. Estimated income - 4,000 US dollars.
The minimum wage in Belarus
The lowest wage in the state is fixed by law. Its establishment takes place every year. Moreover, it can be indexed in accordance with economic realities. In 2015, the minimum wage in Belarus was 2,100,100 Belarusian rubles. This amount was indexed three times. Taking into account bringing the minimum wage in line with economic realities, in January it was already 2.391.769 bel. rubles. The exchange rate against the Russian ruble as of October 21, 2016 is 1 to 32.84. However, after the denomination from June 1, the minimum wage was set at 239 bel. rubles 18 kopecks. In September, this amount was indexed. Now the minimum wage in Belarus is 239.48 bel. rubles or 7864.52 Russian rubles.