MINSK, 9 March (BelTA) – I urge a strong executive discipline and fulfillment of the instruction to achieve the average salary target of $500 in Belarus, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said during the government conference held on 9 March to discuss topical aspects of the country's development, BelTA has learned.

“If you fail to implement my instruction to raise the average salary to $500, be ready to accept the consequences. We have already reached an agreement. If we reach this target, we will face no complaints: neither on the part of social dependents nor workers, intellectuals and others. We should solve this problem whatever it takes. We should provide people with jobs and raise the average salary to $500,” the head of state said.

Alexander Lukashenko also stressed the importance of strict executive standards. “I say it once and will never repeat it. If we take Minsk Oblast, then Shapiro [Minsk Oblast Governor Semyon Shapiro] should not have to say this twice to anybody, neither to a worker, nor a farmer, a doctor, or a teacher, let alone government officials,” he said.