Options for Seasonal Employment: Floristry and Assisting the Elderly in Summer Months
The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Belarus has released details on summer employment opportunities for teenagers this year. The list of light jobs for 14-16 year olds has expanded from 17 to 23 roles, with employers able to hire youngsters across over 160 professions.
Possible employment options include positions in dispatch offices and call centers, floristry, simple mechanism assembly, poster distribution, and bicycle delivery services. Teenagers can also find work in social institutions, such as nursing homes, centers for people with disabilities, and territorial centers for social services.
Although the minimum wage for teenagers is guaranteed to surpass the minimum wage, starting at 726 rubles for a full month's work, employers are discouraged from offering excessive wages to minors.
Credentials for employment include written parental consent, medical examination, and signing an employment contract. Teenagers aged 14-15 are subject to a less rigorous work schedule, not exceeding 4.5 hours per day, while 16-18 year olds may work up to 7 hours. night shifts and weekend work are forbidden.
Remarkably, available vacancies can be discovered through the employment service, the portal gsz.gov.by, or at school. The ministry ensures that all job offers exclude heavy labor, unhealthy conditions, or hazardous activities.
For context, general principles regarding youth employment in Belarus typically adhere to international standards for the protection of minors. Commonly, teenagers under a certain age (typically 14 or 16) are restricted from formal employment, except in light work or family businesses.
In addition, teenagers might be permitted to work in sectors such as agriculture, retail or service industry, tutoring, or babysitting. Their working hours are often limited to ensure sufficient time for education and rest, with specific legal requirements such as permits or parental consent depending on the local legislation.
A teenager seeking a summer job could explore employment opportunities in lifestyle sectors like dispatch offices and call centers, or in education-and-self-development fields such as tutoring or floristry. The Ministry's guidelines for such work prohibit heavy labor, unhealthy conditions, or hazardous activities, prioritizing a balanced lifestyle that includes education and personal development.
