1. SOVIET WAGES AND METHODS OF PAYMENT

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 05157668
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: March 8, 2023
• Document Release Date: August 13, 2019
• Case Number: F-2018-00127
• Publication Date: March 29, 1956

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PROCESSING C -PY.17-
i
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
This material contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States within the mean-
ing of the Espionage Laws, Title 18, U.S.C. Secs. '793
and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in
any manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law.
COUNTRY USSR
SUBJECT
DATE OF INFO.
PLACE ACQUIRED
1. Soviet Wages and Methods of
Payment
2. Medical Facilities
tion Procedures
Prior January 1952
REPORT NO.
DATE DISTR.
and. Hospitaliza- NO. OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT NO.
REFERENCES
')fl MAR
aq '"ft56
1
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
SOURCE
1. Available in the CIA Library are a report on Soviet wages and methods of payment
and a report on medical facilities and hospitalization procedure
2. The first report provides some details on wage levels, paym procedures, pay-
ments for overfulfillment of norms and illness; wage deductions, and some general
information on retail organizations. The second report includes some details on
the obtaining of a medical excuse from work.
dt
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-E -T
STATE
ARMY
NAVY
x
AIR
x I FBI
AEC
(NOTE: Washington distribution indicasd by "X"; Field distribution by "*".)
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roducitton
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a2e �aid so little in the sOviet Union that it is impossible
4 to supply their minimal requirements, let alone save any-
minimum living wage is 700 to 800 rubles, whereas the actual
iinimum wage for a healthy person is only 400 to 500 rubles.
It is impossible to find a worker in the soviet Union who looks well
fed. A worker can't afford to buy shoes and suit at the same time.
A laborer uoes not enjoy the right to protest against low wages.
Such action is regarded as inimical to the existing regime and as
being aimed against the regime - with the consequences that entails.
No working man in the Soviet Union can afford to wwn two good suits
at one time.
2.
Wages for Skilled vorkers
1.
Unskilled labor (ditch diggers, loaders)
400
- 700
r.
2.
Drivers (tractor drivers, mechanics)
500
-1000
"
3.
Miners, metallurgists
1000
-2000
"
4.
Operators of combines, bulldozers, steam shovels
700
-1000
"
Administrative personnel:
1.
Director of a trust
5000-10000
tt
2.
Trust department head
2000
-4000
If
3.
Mine director
3000
-5000
tt
4.
Head of a district
2000
-3000
It
3.
Procedure for Collecting sages, Pay Periods
'-ages are usually paid twice a month. An advance is
_ _
xxxxxxtxmax first half A:,.V UilentMonth from the
'
paid out for the
15th to the 25th;
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for the oast month are oaia from the'lst to the 10th of te
aonth. Eowever, when there are financial difficulties this scnec-
ui _s often violateu anu ,aes are paid 10 to 15 days late. The
advance is issued in the amount of 50 per cent of the worker's wage,.
based on an assumeu fulfillment or his norm. The final payment takes
into account the worker's nonfulfillment of his qmimtail quota, absence
because of illness, ovelfulfiliment of quota, Premiums and raises. If
the worker fulfills his quota by less than 80, he is nonetheless
guaranteed nayment of a minimum of 80% of his wages. The comnany
does not pay for sick leave, i_ich is taken care of by stovernment in-
surance. .'or overfulfillment 6f his -ilan a worker is aid accoraing
to the following scale (aporoximate):
Fulfillment by 101% 110'/ of normal wage plus equals 111-2;
111�', 120'/0 " " 121.
13064 150('J Hft
It 150'd 180 and so forth.
The norms are set high enough so that it is not possible to overfulfill
the -)lan to any very great etent. however, There is no prohibition
aaainst -vorking overtime, which is paid for at 150,0 of the normal
rate for the first two flours and at 200% for any time over that.
According to regulations, waaes are not supposed to be oaiu during
v,orking hours. TiF enterprises have special cashier winuolos for the
payment of ,,ages. In small enterorises)workers collect their wages
at the accountant's office, from someone sitting behind a desk.
Sometimes workers are )aid on the basis of pay slips (kassovyye ordera),
which are given out upon signing of the register (vedomost'). The
latter has roughly the following appearance:
Amount due
'Zionthly
Pieee-
work
orer- Lila
time cel
lan
eous
Total
due
4vithheld
Loan
Inc-
ome
tax
Chile
less
tax
ad-
van
ce
To
La id
out
Lame
of
work
er
-
na t
re
The worker takes his slip to the cashier, where he receives his wages.
If there is any confusion about the correctness of the amount he has
been naid, he takes this matter up with the accountant, , and not pith
the cashier.
In addition to this, so-called raschetnyye knizhki are supposed to
be kept on each worker at large enterprises. The worker keeps his
own knizhka, and twice a month the accountant's office enters in it
the amount of 4a es paid out to him.
.....WamannlimmaimmeillS;000Ellg"
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ayment for _os21__ARtr.plglugiiwiiii.044.0n
When a worker is incapacitated through illness, he is recompensed after
six months from the day he starts work, at the following rate:
Term of Employment
up to 6 mos.
6 mos. to 1 yr.
1 yr. to 3 yrs.
over 3 yrs.
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1
-.ercent of averape earnings for past 2 mos
5cy,
75w;],
10 (Y.,
"orkers who are :lot member of a tra,e union receive only half of the
amounts given above. hospitalization s paid for at this rate only
in the case of two months of uninterruptea illness. t the end of
two months the worker is transferred to a .ension, whiehis considerably
lower than the compensation kg po bolinichnym listam (according to
certificates on treatment in hospital). The accountant's office
nays out the sums due from the bolinichny list, for Jhich the office
then charres the government insurance office.
5. 1e0ucticns
Income tax, tax for chiluless persons, and contributions to the btate
Loan are deducted from a worker's salary. The income tax is withheld
at roughly the following, rate:
�
Income Up to 260 rubles
260
600
1,000
1,300
Tax on childless oersons:
With three chiluren
11
11
two
one child
no children
no income tax
4 rubles
25
70
121
no tax
.5%
State loan. Subscription to the state loan is usually at the be
ginning of ,ay, ana the amount may not be less than the equivalent of
two weeks' salary. -his amount is withheld at the rate of 1/20 of the
total over a period of ten months, from lay through c'ebruary, from
the semi-monthly wage nayments. Then the last yearly instalment is
withheld from the worker's wages, he is given a bond, bonds are issued
in demoninations of 25, 50, loo, 200, and 1,000 rubles, but maxtuati
mmx2rxifaxrukixxxix but certificates with a denomination of less than
100 rubles uo not have the standing of a complete bond. returns on
the bonds are pained, in the form of x raffles held twice a year.
The usual subsecription to the state loan is in the amount equivalent
to one month's salary. rim
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4 .
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In addition to the foreFping aeq4c.t1ons474trace union members nay cues
in the amount of one percent Of their wages. The dues are collected
by a representative of the traae union, who pastes stamps in the work-
er's book for the amount )aid. tarty members also :ay uues, which are
Fra_.uated accordinF to the worer's earninFs.
In addition to all this, there are such voluntary organizations as
,riena of the Forest (Drug less), the Volunteer Society for Coopera-
tion with the Army (Losarm), ens others. .embershia cues in these so-
cieties come to about three rubles a year.
e lent is at the rate of 1.20 rubles per square meter of living scace.
owever, it, is here to get quarters. :t is comparatively easy to
s'.et a place to live in areas where the emeloyer furnishes wor:ers
their apartments. With a shower, water costs about 1 to 3 rubles a
month. 7,1ectricity costs 40 kopeks per kilowatt. Depending on the
cost of the meal, tips in restaurants come to between one anu ten
rubles. One can forego tinning altogether in workers' restaurants.
6. -:ow a Worker Spends his Pay
When a bachelor earning between 400 ars, 1,000 rubles collects his nay,
he usually buys some needed item of clothing, and the rest is put aside
for food. Such a worker usually eats at his place of employment,
where he can get breakfast for 4 to 5 rubles and dinner for 8 to 12
rubles. If he eats at home, he Prepares his own ,,eal on an oil stove.
Ihe only kind of entertainment he can afford is going to the movies
or to some public garden.
i4one in the ""oviet Union can take part in sports. There are sport
societies attached to factories and plants. The favorite sports are
socker, volley ball, basket ball, and in the suburbs swimming and
rowing.
Food is a greater problem in the big cities, where one has to eat
in state owned cafes and lunch rooms, where they overcharge for every-
thing(in the lunch rooms).
7. Distribution of Goods
The following retail organizations supply the population in Trans-
caucasia in peace time: state trading organizations (gostorgovli),
cooperatives, ORS (Workers' Supply Section) and URS (Workers' Supply
Administration), and the kolkhoz markets.
In large cities such as Tbilisi, the population is sup died through
the state tradirg organizations. There is a large network of re-,
tail trade outlets. There are also specialized stores such as
bakeries, butchers, greengrocers, fruit stores, stores for soft
drinks, eletrical appliances, chemical goods, building materials, and
other things. :there is also 0,,,eet.Qrkol.rgstaurants, cafes, lunch
r oms, and pubs. A worker can't afford to pay the ptices in restau-
rants and cafes.
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villages the popu t su oiled by a netIbrk of consumer
societies. ihe assortment of ,JOC.t he duality of the service
is less good here than in the cities, articularly in reoard to food,
because the _armer esually lives on what he grows on his private plot
and on t e produce he receives in return for his labor. ';iorkers who
live in settlements for inoustrial workers are supolied by the 03nS
(-orkers, upply inection) mhe retail prices are the same at all of
these enterorises. Pe institutions concerned with he outveyance of
meals are divided into �xx categories. Of\b restaurants :tor -orkers
are usually in the third cate-ory, an, orices tnere are comnaratively
low. Such olaces are oftn. cafeterias. :be ol-F, enterprises are con-
trolled both by the administration of the mine, factory, or olant, to
wnich the restaurant is attached and by an organization of worker'
controllers. This oroviaes some measure of security against odalutactice
on the oart of the restaurant eiloloyees and improves the situation for
the orkers. Generally xmlp_ sdeaking, the econoTic situation of the
orker depends on his relations with the administration. he latter
uses various legal* and illegal means to improve the lot of workers
that it regards as 'aevotea to teir emplonerS ard to ,et lie of those
that are incompetent or intractable.
There are kolkhoz markets in all cities, and the nooulation usually
buys fruits, vegetables, meat and dairy products there, because the
produce is fresher tlat than at government stores. Government stores
for the most handle frozen and canned goous.
Prices at kolkhoz markets are usually just micit a little above or a
little below those in the state stores, Cepending on the season.
However, scarce goods are pinch more expensive at kolkhoz markets
than in the government stores.
'U_th the excentions ncraeo below, the supoly oroblem in the Soviet
union has undergone a oreat improvement lately: Spices, rice, good
wool material, household qoods. borne goous, such as sugar and butter,
are scarce MEORNiZKRIUX periodically.
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1LLHES LOSPITALIZATION
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1. Illness on the Part of an: Unemployed 1erson
In the soviet Union, anyone is entitled to free medical care, xm re-
gardless of how serious his illness may be. 1-?ree medical care is
supplied by the inistry of health. There is a network of xilt dis-
pensaries, hospitals, and igt polyclinics in the cities and villages.
It is usually not difficult for a person who is seriously ill to
get into one of these institutions. If he is rot able to go to a
dispensary himself he can ihor,e up or send someone there to renort
his address. In such a case one must first know which dispensary
serves the district in which this address is located, because each
dispensary and hospital serves one certain oistrict. When the doc-
tor has come and examined the maim' Patient, he determines whether
the case is in need of hospitalization.
2. Illness while r'ravelling
There are medical attendants or stations on the highways, trains, and
airways. If someone is taken ill on a trip, he should report this to
the conductor, who informs the doctor at the nearest medical aid sta-
tion. The doctor comes to inspect the oatient, and if necessary he
takes him off the train and sends him to a hospital. The sae apolies
to travelling on planes, ships, and buses.
3. Eol'nicnny List
44hen a doctor consiaers that a tatient is not in fit condition to go ,
to work, he issues a bol'nichny list. A local doctor can not issue
such a certificate with a validity greater than 10 days. Thereafter
the decision of the medical commission is necessary for its prolonga-
tion. The medical commission is authorized to issue a bol'nichny list
with a validity of up to two months, ,fter which time the commission
Places him on the'.1st of disabled, and the patient receives a pension.
If necessary, the oatient may receive free meical care uurinp the
entire course of his illness. The bol'nichny list is authorization
for not going to work and for obtaining xm disability compensation.
_ifter the expiration of the certificate, the worker turns it in at
his place of employment. If he is no longer emplo-ed there, and if
he fell ill no later than two weeks after quitting, his job, this last
employer will nonetheless Day the bol'nichny list.
A person who is taken ill while he is looking for a job proceeds the
some way as ,In.�6 other unemployed person.
4. -.Lrocedure at Diseensaries and hospitals
The procedure at g,espitali (large hospitals, usually military) is
about the saie as at other hospitals. When someone is taken ill,
he calls the district (rayonny) coctor in the usual way, and the
latter gives him a list with a validity of txxxxapix up to ten days.
If the patient has not recovered by the expiration of that time,
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theledical commission attacheu to the district (rayonnaya) Ric poly-
clinic determines whether he is in need of treatment in a gospital'.
'Then the natient arrives at the Lobpital' a auestionnaire is filled
out on the basis of the order (napravleniye) of the polyclinic and
a history of the disease is written Up. If the patient is employed,
a bol'nichny list is started for him, if :lot, t e certificate is ot
needed.
c_n the first uay the chief doctor examines the patient anu prescribes
treatment. If the Patient is in very bad condition (unable to move,
loss of oemory), someone close to -He patient is allowed to look
after him, in addition to the ,iurses; ot it may be that someone is
hireu for this auroose. If the aisease is infectious, additional
dale is oermitted, but the attendant is not sllowedtto leave the hos-
pital. Since hospital fare leaves something to be desirea, persons
close to the oatient are allowed to bring him food from home. '_Lhe
patient is checked out ,hen he is out of danger. "Jaen a oatient
checks out he ;.s handed his bol'aichny list, if he is employed. If
the natient is in need for further rest following his release from
the hospital, his bolinichny list authorizes him to stay in bed at
home for five days or more. If a person is not employed, he does not
receive a bollnichny list.
A
If the patient who is checking out iseneed of a rest at a sanatorium,
the gosoital, issues him a certificate (spravka) entitling him to a
pass (putevka).
If a person is suddenly taken seriously ill, a telephone call suffices
to summon an ambulance to take him directly to the hospital, without
the intervention of a polyclinic.
SEC
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