Miory: BCD activist loses his job

A resident of Miory, activist of the organizing committee of the Belarusian Christian Democracy party Siarhei Vasilyeu lost his job.

His labor contract wasn't extended, as the employer couldn't find a suitable job for the activist because of his illnesses. The local social employment center wasn't able to offer him any job either, though Mr. Vasilyeu has two higher educations and agrees to go to work even in a remote village.

The story of Mr. Vasilyeu is typical in present-day Belarus, where the people who are engaged in the opposition movement always runs the risk of remaining unemployed. In 2010 the activist served a 15-day arrest in Minsk for participation in the post-election protests, and couldn't get a job anywhere after it.

Despite having two higher educations, cultural and pedagogical, he managed to get employed only as a loader at a feed mill. There he developed several illnesses: his lungs couldn't bear the dust and his back started aching after weight lifting. He didn't manage to find a different job. His last job is an assistant expediter at the district consumer society.

In fact, Mr. Vasilyeu was implementing the duties of a loader there. “I asked to be transferred to another position at the consumer society, but there wasn't any. That's why I was proposed to take a vacation leave at my own expense until the expiry of the contract, April 10. I couldn't but agree, as my health is getting from bad to worse. On April 13 I went to the social employment center. Earlier, the deputy head of this institution promised to find me a suitable job. However, this time they just registered me as an unemployed and didn't propose anything, though I was ready to work even in a village, in some library or anything like that. However, I was told that the number of such institutions decreases. Who shall I believe to then? On the TV I am told that everything is blooming!” commented the activist.

“Though people have the right to work, it is impossible to exercise this right. I haven't been proposed anything at the social employment center. They also said they would pay me an unemployment benefit, which is just 360,000 rubles. For this money we are proposed to live – to pay for electricity and heating, buy medicines, leave alone clothes and food. And the main thing – I'll be able to get this benefit only on May 20. Not only am I denied employment, I am also starved!”, argues Mr. Vasilyeu.

According to him, he has already had cases where the question of his civic activism as raised at the places of his employment. He has been often hinted that critically minded people aren't needed at state enterprises and institutions. Therefore, the activist has almost no hope for employment and has all chances to become a “socially dependent person”.