Dmitry Reutsky: Strong family is the basis of demographic well-being and stability of Belarus

About the family values of Belarusians — one of the main factors of demographic well-being, stability and national security — said the assistant to the President — inspector for Minsk Dmitry Reutsky at a meeting with the staff of the Plant of effective industrial structures (ZEPK) on October 15, the correspondent of the Agency “Minsk-Novosti”.

ZEPK is one of the largest plants in the country for the production of precast concrete for industrial and civil construction. It is equipped with modern equipment, with the help of which the company produces such high-quality and popular products as wall panels, floor slabs, road slabs, piles and others. ZEPK is also a resident of the free economic zone “Minsk”.

“Traditional values of Belarusians: family, society, state” was the theme of the unified day of information. Speaking to the staff of the enterprise, D. Reutsky stressed:

- The basis for the sustainable development of any state in modern conditions is a strong economy, the availability of natural resources, a high level of education, the development of digital technologies. But equally important is the preservation and enhancement of traditional family values. A strong family is the basis of demographic well-being and stability of the country.

Today, Belarus, like many other countries, faces key challenges in the demographic sphere: an aging population, a declining birth rate.

- There are other factors that negatively affect the demographic situation: delayed marriage (the average age of first marriage in 2025 for women was 26.7 years, for men – 29). Or, say, young couples get married, but believe that first you need to earn an apartment, a car, a cottage, form a career, and postpone the birth of the first child. And what about the second? – said D. Reutsky.

Therefore, the main task of society and the state is to increase the prestige of responsible parenthood. Belarus has strong state support: a set of measures is being implemented to ensure decent living conditions for families with children.

- These measures are constantly being improved. Thus, paid leave is provided to care for a child under the age of 3 years, state benefits are paid (we have more than 11 types of them) at the birth and upbringing of children, the appointment of family capital at the birth of the third and subsequent children, targeted social assistance and social services, housing benefits are provided, said the Assistant to the President - Inspector for Minsk.

The family capital program has been successfully implemented.

- It should be noted that family capital applies only to large families. We currently have 117,000 of them. Of these, 102 thousand used this right and sent money (35.5 thousand BYN) to solve the housing issue, medical or educational services, Reutsky said. In addition, our large families have 386,000 children. Thanks to family capital, the birth of third and subsequent children increased by 40% over a 10-year period. This shows that the efforts and measures that the state is making and implementing are yielding results.

D. Reutsky also emphasized that despite the fact that state social policy is traditionally aimed at comprehensive support for families with children and strengthening the demographic security of the country, it is very important that such care does not give rise to social dependency.

- State assistance should not replace the family’s desire to earn and provide for themselves, said the Assistant to the President – Inspector for Minsk.

After a meeting with the team, D. Reutsky visited the workshops of ZEPK, where he was introduced to the production by the director of the plant Vadim Salei.

Photo by Sergei Pozhi