MOSCOW. July 23 (Interfax-AVN) - About 2,000 to 3,000 people will opt for alternative civil service in Russia, Minister of Labor and Social Development Alexander Pochinok said in an interview with the Izvestia daily published on Wednesday.
"Just in case, we will offer several times more jobs to the Defense Ministry, so that people will have the choice," the minister said.
The government has not yet passed a resolution ordering interested agencies to submit the list of professions available for alternative civil service to the Labor and Social Development Ministry. However, the resolution has already been drafted, he said.
"Several resolutions will be issued, to be exact. By the way, the president has already ordered the military to compile a list of professions for alternative servicemen," Pochinok noted.
According to him, the alternative servicemen will not carry arms even if they are employed by law-enforcement agencies. "As to civilian agencies, they will offer jobs somehow related to charity or aid to people. An alternative serviceman can work as a rescuer in Emergencies Ministry bodies or as an aide or paramedic in hospital, if he has required qualifications," the minister said.
He recalled that alternative servicemen will be in service for 3.5 years and are required to submit an application for alternative service six months before the draft. They will be paid salaries and bonuses in accordance with their positions, as well as subsistence allowance, and will enjoy the right to free transportation to vacation site. The transportation time is added to the paid vacation time.
"In some cases, they may be involved in public works, for instance, in combating natural disasters. They are entitled to two days-off per every three days of such works," Pochinok said.
President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on arranging alternative civil service on Tuesday. The decree takes effect on January 1, 2004, simultaneously with a corresponding law.