April 26 is a memorable date in Belarus – the Day of the Chernobyl Tragedy

On Social Protection of Citizens Affected by the Chernobyl NPP Disaster

Currently, about 70 thousand liquidators of the Chernobyl NPP disaster consequences and over 950 thousand people in radioactive contamination zones reside in the republic.

Liquidators of the Chernobyl NPP disaster consequences are provided with social support depending on the period of their participation in the accident mitigation efforts, as well as on the level of radioactive contamination of the territory where such work was carried out.

The most significant benefits are provided to liquidators of the Chernobyl NPP disaster consequences who have contracted and suffered from radiation sickness, became disabled as a result of the Chernobyl NPP disaster, as well as to citizens who participated in the mitigation efforts of the Chernobyl NPP disaster consequences in the evacuation (alienation) zone.

In Labor Relations

Liquidators of the Chernobyl NPP disaster consequences, those who have contracted and suffered from radiation sickness caused by the consequences of the Chernobyl NPP disaster and other radiation accidents, and disabled individuals due to the Chernobyl NPP disaster are entitled to:

• priority right to remain employed during staff or workforce reductions;

• provision of a social leave without pay for 14 calendar days per year;

• provision of leave during summer or other convenient time at the employee's request. This guarantee is also provided to employees evacuated, resettled, or who voluntarily left the territory of radioactive contamination from the evacuation (alienation) zone, the zone of priority resettlement, and the zone of subsequent resettlement, except for those who arrived in the specified zones after January 1, 1990.

Special provisions for labor regulation of employees residing (working) in areas of radioactive contamination are also provided:

• 35-hour working week;

• increased daily allowances for temporarily assigned or seconded employees;

• extended duration of annual leave (excluding additional leave for work in hazardous and/or dangerous conditions):

- 44 calendar days – for individuals working in zones of evacuation (resettlement) and priority resettlement;

- 37 calendar days – for individuals working in zones with the right to resettlement;

• maternity leave for women from 27 weeks of pregnancy, lasting 146 calendar days (160 calendar days in case of complicated childbirth or the birth of two or more children), regardless of the number of days actually used before childbirth.

Medical workers, pharmaceutical workers, cultural workers, pedagogical workers and other specialists of educational institutions, agricultural specialists, housing and communal services specialists, specialists engaged in veterinary activities, workers and specialists of the consumer cooperative system, specialists and heads of specialized educational and sports institutions, who have concluded a contract after December 31, 2012 for a period of 5 years to work in organizations located in zones with the right to resettlement and subsequent resettlement, are paid a one-time payment:

• upon conclusion of the first contract for a period of 5 years – 200 base units;

• upon conclusion of the second contract for a period of 5 years after 5 years of work under the first five-year contract – 300 base units.

Support for Families with Children

Citizens residing in a settlement located in a radioactive contamination area within a subsequent resettlement zone or a zone with the right to resettlement are entitled to a childcare allowance for children under 3 years of age amounting to 150% of the established rate.

The increased allowance rate is granted if the citizen caring for a child under 3 years of age has:

• permanent (primary) residence in a settlement located in a subsequent resettlement zone or a zone with the right to resettlement, and registered residence in the said settlement;

• a certificate of victim of the Chernobyl NPP disaster, other radiation accidents, confirming the right to benefits under Articles 21 and 22 of the Law "On Social Protection of Citizens Affected by the Chernobyl NPP Disaster, Other Radiation Accidents".

Pension Provision

A significant volume of benefits is provided in terms of pension provision. These include:

• the right to early retirement due to age:

- 10 years earlier than the generally established retirement age:

. participants in the Chernobyl NPP disaster aftermath liquidation who took part in liquidation work within the 10-kilometer zone in 1986 or for at least 10 days in 1987;

. citizens who developed and suffered from radiation sickness, disabled due to the Chernobyl disaster.

.- 5 years earlier than the generally established retirement age – participants in the Chernobyl NPP disaster aftermath liquidation, engaged in liquidation work in 1986-1987 within the evacuation (exclusion) zone (except for those engaged in the 10-kilometer zone), if they have a disability (regardless of the cause);

• A special procedure for calculating disability and survivor pensions for individuals who became disabled due to injury or illness caused by the Chernobyl disaster, and for families who lost their breadwinner due to such causes. Disability and survivor pensions compensate for the loss of earnings (income) due to disability or loss of the breadwinner.

• Preferential calculation of work time at the Chernobyl NPP, as well as in evacuation, priority resettlement, and subsequent resettlement zones (credited towards pension eligibility at triple or one-and-a-half times the rate, depending on the zone where the work was performed and the period of its execution).

• Establishment of pension supplements:

- Allowances for individuals disabled due to injury or illness caused by the Chernobyl disaster, ranging from 37 to 74 rubles (as of April of the current year).

- Increases for participants in the liquidation of the disaster's consequences (depending on the duration of participation in liquidation efforts and the zone where liquidation work was carried out) and for individuals resettled from evacuation (exclusion) zones, priority resettlement zones, and subsequent resettlement zones, and who voluntarily left these zones after the disaster, ranging from 19 to 37 rubles.

• Right to a social pension

for individuals disabled due to the Chernobyl disaster and for children who lost their breadwinner due to injury or illness caused by the Chernobyl disaster, at increased rates.

Additionally, citizens who contracted and suffered from radiation sickness caused by the consequences of the Chernobyl NPP disaster have been granted the right to the following state social benefits:

• A 90 percent discount on the cost of medications;

• free manufacturing and repair of dental prostheses in state healthcare organizations, provision of other technical means of social rehabilitation;

• priority free sanatorium-resort treatment;

• free travel on urban and suburban public transport;

• 50 percent discount on housing and utility services (provided to citizens without able-bodied family members).