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7 August, 2005ICEM News release No. 79/2000
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has received a further protest from the 20-million-strong International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM) over laws that violate basic trade union rights.
The new Belarus labour code is the subject of a current union complaint to the UN's International Labour Organisation (ILO). The complaint details the ways in which the Belarus laws violate ILO Conventions 87 and 98 on freedom of association and collective bargaining.
"At least the following provisions" in the Belarus law breach these basic rights, ICEM General Secretary Fred Higgs told Lukashenko: "compulsory registration procedures sanctioned by liquidation of union organisations, minimum membership requirements, restrictions on the right to strike, and discrimination against trade union members." In addition, Higgs wrote, there has been "a worrying trend of increased interference by the authorities in union affairs."
The ICEM's demand to Lukashenko is that "your government take urgent measures to ensure the full observance of ILO standards and democratic trade union rights."
"Recent events in Yugoslavia have proved that European citizens want to live in peace and work for a better life in a democratic society," Higgs reminded Lukashenko. "The Belarus trade union movement has made it very clear that their major concern is the welfare of their members, the workers of Belarus, through the economic and social progress in their country, which constitutes an integral part of Europe and deserves a rightful place in the community of nations."
Higgs pledged full support by the ICEM and its affiliated unions worldwide for the Belarus unions' campaign to defend their rights.
The new Belarus labour code is the subject of a current union complaint to the UN's International Labour Organisation (ILO). The complaint details the ways in which the Belarus laws violate ILO Conventions 87 and 98 on freedom of association and collective bargaining.
"At least the following provisions" in the Belarus law breach these basic rights, ICEM General Secretary Fred Higgs told Lukashenko: "compulsory registration procedures sanctioned by liquidation of union organisations, minimum membership requirements, restrictions on the right to strike, and discrimination against trade union members." In addition, Higgs wrote, there has been "a worrying trend of increased interference by the authorities in union affairs."
The ICEM's demand to Lukashenko is that "your government take urgent measures to ensure the full observance of ILO standards and democratic trade union rights."
"Recent events in Yugoslavia have proved that European citizens want to live in peace and work for a better life in a democratic society," Higgs reminded Lukashenko. "The Belarus trade union movement has made it very clear that their major concern is the welfare of their members, the workers of Belarus, through the economic and social progress in their country, which constitutes an integral part of Europe and deserves a rightful place in the community of nations."
Higgs pledged full support by the ICEM and its affiliated unions worldwide for the Belarus unions' campaign to defend their rights.