A resident of Vitebsk named Dmitry approached the editorial office, saying that for several months he has not been receiving his salary: “The employer refuses to pay wages in cash through the cashier, and he is overloaded with work, especially tasks that are not specified in the employment contract.” In July, the young man started working at one of the stores of JSC “Vesta” as a first‑grade loader, and, as he claims, he has been forced to live off his mother, a pensioner, until today. The company assures that wages were paid to the account he provided. We asked how JSC views the situation, and a lawyer explained to us what the proper procedure for wage payment should be and why one might receive less than earned.

“They don’t pay wages, you can’t quit”

Since July 9

The manager said that they would pay me in cash. The surveillance cameras show me sweeping the store with a mop, cleaning the bins, and still managing to work as a loader.

My only question is: where are my money?

Work with one day off and potato delivery

Dmitry says he has only seen his payslip once – for July. Though he admits that all employees receive their salaries on their cards twice a month. According to the reader’s estimate, a loader should receive 1–1.2 thousand rubles net per month, including base salary and allowances.

The young man recalls that until September 3 he worked a “two‑on, two‑off” schedule of 12–13 hours. On September 3 his shift colleague, a loader, submitted a resignation. According to the reader, after that a schedule was drawn up for him until the end of September with a six‑day work week: Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 17:30, Saturday from 9:00 to 13:00, Sunday off.

Another complaint from the Vitebsk resident to the store management: one of the tasks triggered questions from the