49.7% of Belarusians feel decline in earnings in Jun 2020 – survey

<p> MINSK, Jun 24 - PrimePress. According to a joint opinion poll on the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic conducted by Satio and Beroc researchers on June 8-15, 2020, 49.7% of Belarusians felt a decline in their earnings in June. </p> <p>   </p> <p> The decline in incomes has stabilized: 49.7% of the respondents felt a decline in their incomes in June 2020 (compared with 45% in March, 52% in April and 48% in May); 55% said their earnings decreased compared with the pre-pandemic period,” reads the report. </p> <p>   </p> <p> This was due, as before, to a decrease in the number of orders placed (34% of those whose incomes dropped, particularly typical of the service sector in Minsk), nonpayment of bonuses (26%), and wage cuts (25%). </p> <p>   </p> <p> Belarusians continue to experience a reduction in working hours (20% in June against 25% in May) and unpaid furloughs (19% in June against 20% in May). This is the main cause of the income decline in small towns. 7% of those whose incomes dropped report backdated wages. </p> <p>   </p> <p> Negative expectations for the next two weeks persist, although they showed an inconsiderable improvement compared with expectations in May. The respondents were slightly more optimistic about the epidemic developments: 52% expect the situation to worsen in June to compare with 66% in May. Despite a deflation and the strengthening of the national currency in May and early June, only 19% and 15% expect this in the future. End </p>

2020-06-25

Primepress