"The main thing is to provide an opportunity to escape the trap of alcohol addiction." How employment promotion commissions help the unemployed

There's work for everyone who's willing to work. However, some ignore any opportunity to find a suitable position . Employment promotion commissions, which exist in every district center, actively work with these people. A "7 Days" correspondent saw this firsthand when he visited the Logoisk District.

Where there's a will, there's a way.

Of the 38,000 residents of Logoisk, only just over 2,500 are unemployed. According to Elena Moroz, a social worker at the Territorial Center for Social Services for the Population of the Logoisk District, the main thing is for a person to have the desire to find work, and the state will assist with the search. For example, there's currently a high demand for CNC machine operators, electricians, engineers, welders, machine operators, technologists, salespeople, and cashiers. Moreover, those without experience are willing to receive training in new professions at public expense. These are the positions the commission plans to offer to those attending the meeting, which we also attended. However, those who have repeatedly received invitations to appear before the commission but have failed to appear will not arrive alone, but with a police escort. These unemployed include those registered with the Logoisk District Police Department for preventive care, as well as those who have returned from prison and are still unemployed.

"People live without electricity, water, or heat, and they're happy with that. We don't see any attempts to improve their lives. They have multiple convictions, are periodically sent to LTPs for treatment , and don't even think about finding work," notes Police Major Aleksandr Kokhan, HEAD of the Logoisk District Police Department's temporary detention facility, with whom we go to serve summonses to the commission to parasites from Logoisk and the surrounding villages. "In the summer, they find seasonal work, picking and selling berries and mushrooms. In the fall, they come to the aid of summer residents, chopping firewood for money . But in the winter, when it's harder to find work, breaking the law is not far off.

The door went unanswered at three addresses in the village of Kosino. At the fourth house, we were met by the mother of Alexander, the troublemaker.

"Find him a job—maybe he'll come to his senses and quit drinking," the pensioner begs tearfully.

Her son is currently staying with his partner, Svetlana, to whom we, along with the police, headed. The house turns out to be nearby. It's hard to believe anyone lives there: the property is surrounded by a dilapidated fence, the yard is cluttered and unkempt, and snow barely conceals the scattered trash and dried weeds. A thin, fair-haired woman of about fifty opens the door. She's not at all surprised by the police's arrival. Upon learning the reason for our visit, Svetlana assures us: her partner is currently working part-time, herding cattle at the farm.

“I wouldn’t mind working myself. I need money to pay the installments. True, I’m a third-degree disabled person and can only work four hours a day,” she declares.

And then, unexpectedly for everyone, Alexander appears in the doorway.

“Come on, Sasha, get ready, let’s go to the commission,” Svetlana commands, not at all embarrassed. “They’ll offer us better work there.”

it didn’t take long to persuade him, and by the appointed time the police car is parked at the district executive committee, where several dozen unemployed people have already gathered, most of whom were broughtLaw enforcement officers .

Would you like to work?

The first to express a desire to find work was 50-year-old Sergey. He had worked as a stoker in a boiler house for the last four years, but had to leave due to illness. Living with his 70-year-old mother on her pension was embarrassing, so he asked for help. The commission, after listening to the villager, offered employment at a waste sorting station. After learning the working conditions, the man refused:

"It's difficult to get there, and the pay is low!

" Lyudmila Muravitskaya, chair of the employment commission and chair of the Logoisk District Council of Deputies, clarified:

"The salary depends on how you work. There is a bus in the morning and evening, so you shouldn't have any problems with that. If something suddenly goes wrong, call us - we'll find another job. "

The next person up for employment is Alexander. He is a welder by training, but he hasn't been able to find work in his specialty.

"Sasha, you look very good, you've freshened up." "It's clear they've stopped abusing ALCOHOL and improved their HEALTH ," Lyudmila Nikolaevna greets him.

The man confirms: he's been sober for a week! He's ready to work. There's a vacancy right here: a spot in the vehicle depot, a salary of Br1,200. Alexander immediately agreed.
The other Alexander, the same one the police officers and I brought to the commission from Svetlana's house, was promised a job at one of the local agricultural enterprises. It turns out he'd been offered several jobs before, but he never stayed in one for long. After receiving his salary, he'd go on a long drinking binge—he'd been fired for absenteeism.

"We know everyone here well. These people often seek help with various issues, not just employment. After all, the most important thing is to give them the opportunity to escape the trap of alcohol addiction and improve their quality of life." There are plenty of vacancies in the labor market—if only there's a desire to improve, concludes Lyudmila Muravitskaya.

The National Job Bank portal has over 165,000 current job postings. These are primarily blue-collar jobs: turners, mechanics, electricians, milling machine operators, cooks, and drivers. The salaries are competitive. For example, one utility company in the Grodno region is willing to pay a truck driver up to Br1,800, while in the MINSK region, an electrician can earn over Br2,000. Some companies are willing to hire young people with no experience—college and technical school graduates—and improve their skills through practical work. They also offer social packages with various bonuses, payments, and gifts. Courier jobs also remain popular. One of the capital's companies is willing to pay such an employee, who has a car, up to Br2,500.

Vadim KONDRATYUK,
photo by the author,
"7 days."