Henadz Fiadynich: ‘Parasitic’ Commissions Remind NKVD ‘Troikas’

The activists of the REP trade union demand to put the work of the commissions under the control of the public.

The leader of the independent trade union REP Henadz Fiadynich stated in a commentary for praca-by.info that members of the REP trade union throughout Belarus will apply for being included in commissions that will consider "difficult life situations". Such a letter has already been received by the Chairman of the Homel city executive committee with a proposal to include Leanid Sudalenka, the labor law inspector of the REP trade union.

- The main thing that the government promised was that all those who want to join the commissions will be included in them. Therefore, the REP trade union will strongly recommend to all its structures: every city, every enterprise where there is a cell of the REP trade union, to join the commissions.

The trade union leader explained the need for such a step by the desire to publicize the work of the new body:

«To find out what these commissions generally can do for the benefit of people».

Answering the question why the REP trade union wants to join the new body, if even the legitimacy of its creation is questionable, Henadz Fiadynich said:

«We want to join the commissions in order to make their work transparent. Then, perhaps, we will show the absurdity of these commissions: they will not be able to do anything to employ people or to improve their economic situation. Not because the commission includes bad people - but because there are no conditions to create new jobs and give a decent salary.»

Henadz Fiadynich explained why he paid so much attention to the transparency of the procedure for making future decisions about the fate of "parasites":

«These commissions, like the troika of the NKVD (an organ of extrajudicial sentencing during the Stalinist repressions - ed.), are not even subject to judicial decisions. Our union is confident that this should not be so. If there is a decision of some body, then people should have the right to legitimate protest against it.»

Important to note, on January 25, Lukashenka signed Decree # 1, which contains measures to promote employment. The new decree did not include norms on levying able-bodied non-working population to finance the state expenditures.

On the ground, special commissions will be set up, which will collect information about "parasites".

The able-bodied citizens who are not engaged in the economy pay for the following utilities under the prices (tariffs) providing 100% cost recovery:

hot water supply, gas supply in the presence of individual gas heating appliances, heat supply.

The resolution comes into force on January 1, 2019.

The previous version of the decree caused mass protests among the population.