Zinaida Mikhniuk: You Cannot Blame People For Having No Job

The situation in the Belarusian regions is getting worse.

Zinaida Mikhniuk is not only the acting chairperson, but also remains the representative of the REP trade union in the Brest region, and also continues to be active as one of the leaders of the women's network. The activist shared her vision of the situation in the region and the union in an interview with the trade union newsletter “Labor Solidarity”, writes praca-by.info.

- The region is large, probably it has both its achievements, as well as difficulties and problems. What is the situation in the Brest region now?

- For residents of our region, the problem with work now comes first. This is not only the level of salaries, but the lack of jobs. People come to our union with these problems. I want to tell our government: you can’t blame people for not working, create opportunities so that they can find this job. And if someone has found an opportunity to earn money on their own, one must be glad that he does not ask this government for anything except an opportunity to work. There are more jobs in Minsk, higher salaries, while things are getting worse and worse in the regions.

Unfortunately, we cannot solve these problems ourselves. But we help people. We have a good legal service. For example, recently a family of builders came - they built schools, but they were not paid for the work. They joined the REP trade union, and our lawyer Uladzimir Maley, ensured that the employer agreed to a settlement with a promise to pay everything that he owed. These people told others, and three more people came to our union. One of the problems in our region is poor transport communications. For example, from Baranavichy, Mikashevichy it is easier to get to Minsk than to Brest.

- What are your perspectives for the future? Can the state hope that the REP trade union will give up its positions?

- I feel optimistic about the situation. Of course, there are difficulties, but I think it is us, the REP, is what real trade unions should be. People see that our priority is a man of labor: we will listen to everyone and do our best to help.

I believe that if people had the opportunity to choose without pressure, they would have left the trade unions of the pro-governmental Federation. The more active would probably join independent unions, while others would be left without a union at all, since this is better than in the Federation. We are now approaching the seventh Congress of our union, which will be held in 2020. I hope there will be a certain rise. Before the Congress, meetings should be held to elect delegates, discussions. I am sure that we will meet the upcoming Congress of the Union with dignity.