World Trade Unions Blacklisted Belarus

Belarus has entered the category of countries where workers are not guaranteed their rights.

According to the 2019 Global Rights Index, which is annually compiled by the International Trade Union Confederation, Belarus has entered the category of countries where workers are not guaranteed their rights, naviny.by reports.

The index divides countries into six categories. States with occasional violations of rights get into the best - the first category, with repeated violations - into the second category, with regular violations - into the third category, with permanent violations - into the fourth category, with no guarantee of rights - into the fifth category, with no guarantee of rights due to imperfection of laws - into the fifth plus category.

Together with Belarus, another 33 countries are included in the fifth category.

The worst category includes nine African and Middle Eastern states, while the best category includes twelve (eleven countries of Northern, Central and Southern Europe, as well as Uruguay).

The index report says that in Belarus and in Kazakhstan, "the authorities continued to repress independent trade unions, pursuing and sentencing trade union leaders on fabricated charges."

The International Trade Union Confederation has been collecting data on violations of workers' rights in the world for about 40 years. This year, ITUC presented for the sixth time the results of its research in the form of a global index, defined by 97 indicators and taking into account the level of protection of labor rights in law and in practice. The study is intended for business and government representatives.