OREANDA-NEWS. January 14, 2010. Considering the importance of the employment growth target, the government has revised upward the job growth projections from 165,000 to 175,300, reported the press-centre of government.by. 

The national government bodies are expected to create 7,215 working places, Minister of Labor and Social Security Marianna Shchetkina said at a session of the Presidium of the Council of Ministers which focused on the draft action plan for 2010 to implement the state employment assistance program of the Republic of Belarus for 2009-2010.

In accordance with the services industry development programme for 2006-2010, some 21,100 new jobs will be created in 2006-2010. The target for the Trade Ministry has been revised upward by almost 50%, for the Belcoopsoyuz by 1,5 times.

The new jobs projections in small towns have been increased to 25,500 or 20%. Some 17,500 new jobs are expected to be set up in rural areas, up 45% from 2009. The targets for new jobs are very ambitious, Marianna Shchetkina stressed.

In her words, by 1 February 2010 the town and regional executive committees are to report on the progress in implementing the targets set before them this year. A part of indicators including new jobs and manufactures is set by the local executive committees.

The Labor and Social Security Minister added that the new jobs projections are in keeping with the innovation and investment, rural and small towns development programs.

The employment promotion measures will help keep the unemployment rate under 1% in Belarus’ small towns as stipulated in the program to develop small towns of Belarus, Marianna Shchetkina said.

The labor, employment and social protection bodies examined the employment in the regions. As a result, the number of small towns to be included in the draft action plan was increased from 11 to 25. Apart from that, new approaches were introduced to include towns and regions into this program. The new criteria are the tension on the local labor market, salary level, presence and type of openings, unemployment trends during the last three years.

In order to maintain employment in small towns, job placement will be provided to 31,100 unemployed; some 20,600 unemployed will be involved in paid community work; financial assistance to start a business will be provided to 671 unemployed; 4,600 people will be offered professional training, 431 people will be employed within the framework of the Youth Practice program.