Housewives with two children or fewer are among thousands of people in Belarus facing criminal proceedings under a new law against “social parasitism” that makes it illegal to be unemployed.

Rights activists have called on parliament to repeal the decree passed on April 2 by President ­Alexander Lukashenko.

The ruling aims to “stimulate able-bodied citizens to engage in labour activity” to help to finance state expenditures. Adults who have not paid income tax on at least 183 days a year will be fined 3.6 million Belarusian roubles ($420). Failure to pay will be punished with heavier fines, detention and community service.

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Children, the disabled, students, parents caring for three or more children and people over retirement age will be exempt.

More than 25,000 people have signed an online petition calling for the “unconstitutional” law to be scrapped. One of them, Natalya Kazak, wrote: “So a woman who has three children is good but a woman who has two children and who brings them up and takes care of the house is a social parasite?”

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