The Ministry of Labor explained what determines the size of an individual entrepreneur's pension in Belarus

Author and editor-in-chief: Vitaly Kisterny 04.09.2026 17:55:00

In Belarus, the future pension of an individual entrepreneur (IE) directly depends on the amount of contributions to the Fund of Social Protection of the Population (FSZN). From January 1, 2026, the minimum wage from which contributions are calculated has increased to 858 rubles.

However, as it turned out, stable payment of contributions from the "minimum wage" guarantees only a basic pension.

Details about pension amounts were shared by the press service of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection on its Telegram channel. And they gave a couple of valuable tips.

Photo: © Belnovosti / Belarusian rubles. Author Vitaly Kisterny

Contributions: who pays how much

The mechanics of calculating contributions to the Social Protection Fund for businesses differ depending on the tax regime. The base rate for most is 35%. From January 1, 2026, the minimum wage was set at 858 rubles, and this figure is the starting point for calculations.

For standard individual entrepreneurs, lawyers, and notaries, the payment is divided into two parts: 29% goes to pension insurance, and 6% goes to social insurance (payment of sick leave, maternity benefits, etc.).

But artisans, owners of agro-estates, and payers of the single tax pay only the pension part — those same 29%.

Individual entrepreneurs on income tax have a separate situation. Here the calculation is based not on the "minimum wage" but on actual income. If the income for the year is small (less than 12 minimum wages as of December 2025), contributions are calculated from the actual amount. If the income exceeds this threshold, contributions are paid from the amount of 12 minimum wages.

Why paying "the minimum" is a trap

The numbers look harsh, but they need to be known. If you paid contributions honestly, but did so based on the minimum wage (or lower) all the time, your ceiling is the minimum labor old-age pension. Now it is only 600 rubles.

For comparison: the average old-age pension in the country is 1,125 rubles. The difference is almost double. The state guarantees a minimum of 20 years of service, but does that guarantee a comfortable old age? A rhetorical question.

How to increase your future pension

The only working tool for self-employed people and business owners is voluntary increase of the contribution base.

Simply put, you need to pay contributions to the FSZN from an amount above the minimum wage. This directly affects the individual earnings coefficient, from which your pension will subsequently be calculated.

Important nuances that are often forgotten

Only those periods when contributions were actually paid count toward the insurance record. If there was a break or the payment turned out to be below the established minimum, that period will either fall out of the record entirely or be credited with a significant reduction factor.

Online monitoring. There is no need to wait for a letter from the social security office at age 60. You can check how your pension rights are accumulating right now.

All information about the insurance record (starting from January 1, 2003) is available in the mobile application "FSZN" or by contacting the Fund's offices in person.

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