Read this article in:
14 June, 2001Threats and blackmail against trade union activists have intensified in Belarus.
GENEVA: A labour leader from Belarus today (June 15) denounced the Lukashenko regime's "intensified attack on trade unions" and called for continued action by the UN's International Labour Organisation to keep up pressure on the government. Addressing the more than 500 trade unionists who form the Workers' Group at this year's annual ILO International Labour Conference, Viktor Babayed said that a new presidential decree declared any trade union meeting illegal on the eve of the presidential elections and that threats and blackmail against activists have intensified.
Speaking on behalf of the Workers' Group, Bill Brett, its spokesperson at the Conference, referred to an "extreme situation in Belarus in terms of trade union rights abuses".
Yesterday, at the initiative of the Workers' Group, the Conference's Tripartite Committee on the Application of Standards decided to devote a special paragraph of their report to express particular concern over the situation in Belarus. Delegates denounced the interference in trade union activities by the government, the arrests and dismissals of activists and members and the constant threats on the trade union movement. The Committee report will be formally submitted for adoption by the Conference on its closing day on June 21.
In March of this year, the ILO Governing Body already called on the Belarus government to stop repressing trade unions. A report adopted by the Governing Body accused Belarus of "numerous and varied attacks on trade union rights" and of "regular and systematic interference in trade union activities".
Speaking on behalf of the Workers' Group, Bill Brett, its spokesperson at the Conference, referred to an "extreme situation in Belarus in terms of trade union rights abuses".
Yesterday, at the initiative of the Workers' Group, the Conference's Tripartite Committee on the Application of Standards decided to devote a special paragraph of their report to express particular concern over the situation in Belarus. Delegates denounced the interference in trade union activities by the government, the arrests and dismissals of activists and members and the constant threats on the trade union movement. The Committee report will be formally submitted for adoption by the Conference on its closing day on June 21.
In March of this year, the ILO Governing Body already called on the Belarus government to stop repressing trade unions. A report adopted by the Governing Body accused Belarus of "numerous and varied attacks on trade union rights" and of "regular and systematic interference in trade union activities".