
Alexander Lukashenko stated on September 22 at a meeting on the prospects of housing construction that rental housing must be built in connection with workplaces, rather than for the sake of fulfilling plans. According to him, this approach will allow for the simultaneous resolution of the housing issue and the retention of personnel at enterprises.
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The emphasis in housing policy, noted Alexander Lukashenko, is shifting towards rental housing. However, it must be built to meet the real needs of a specific region, industry, or employer. This is especially important for attracting and retaining young professionals, to whom the enterprise or authority can provide an apartment. With the entry into force of Decree No. 344 "On subsidizing legal entities for the construction or acquisition of residential premises" on January 1, 2025, the process of enterprises building rental housing for their employees has become more active, but the pace of this process still leaves much to be desired. "People were promised that apartments would be built in connection with workplaces. This is probably the essence of rental housing," emphasized the head of state, instructing the meeting participants to solve this problem and make this practice widespread.
Olga Lutsko, a deputy of the regional Council of Deputies and director of the Turov Milk Plant:
– The personnel issue is acute for any leader, but especially in small towns. Here, one cannot act according to a template: it is necessary to approach personnel policy very demandingly, seek rational paths, and invest in the city's infrastructure. Competitive working conditions are necessary, but not enough. People need comfortable housing and social life. It is essential that the benefits available in the capital or regional centers, which are considered basic, are also accessible: sports, cafes, and the opportunity to spend leisure time interestingly. Without this, a specialist, even with a good salary, is unlikely to stay for long.
The Turovsky dairy plant has a fairly narrow specialization, so we gathered employees from different regions of Belarus. For a small town, comfortable housing is one of the main ways to attract and retain highly qualified workers. In 2023, a six-story building with 34 apartments, built at the plant's own expense, was put into operation. Among the residents are young professionals, families with children, and employees who have moved to Turov from other cities. There are many families in the team that were formed from plant workers. This indicates a benevolent atmosphere, which is important to maintain so that people stay here to work and live.
Yuri Vasiltsov, member of the Council of the Republic, director of OAO Tikhinichi:
– I have always said and will continue to say: the land will not remain in debt if you invest labor and soul into it, and people will not let you down if you create decent conditions for them. Therefore, as the head of a large agricultural enterprise, I see my task not only in achieving high production indicators – weight gain, milk yield, and crop yields. For me, it is obvious that the regional economy is based not on abstract numbers, but on specific people who go to the farm or sit behind the wheel of a tractor every day. It is no less important to create decent conditions for them to work and live. People should have the opportunity to live in the countryside comfortably, in modern and well-appointed houses that are no worse than in the city. That is why the issue of living conditions is given top priority at OAO Tikhinichi. We understand that without a strong rear, there will be no records in production. When a person has a decent salary, good working conditions, and comfortable housing, they stay in their native places, build plans for the future, and work confidently for the development of the enterprise and the country. People are our main resource, and caring for them should be part of the daily work of a manager. I can confidently say that at OAO Tikhinichi, decent conditions have been created for workers and their families: we provide housing, help with settling in, and have plans to build new rental houses. We are not standing still: ahead are new projects for improvement and development of social infrastructure, so that the village can live and thrive.