ILO Launches Immediate Intervention Procedure Due to Workers' Rights Situation in Belarus

The procedure is only triggered in an emergency.

The International Labor Organization (ILO) has launched an immediate intervention procedure, which is launched in emergency situations and requires an urgent response to the situation with workers' rights, writes praca-by.info.

The procedure was initiated by the governing body of the BKDP (Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions) in connection with the amendments to the Labor Code introduced in the first reading.

The amendments to the Labor Code adopted by the “house of representatives” in the first reading “not only deprive workers of one of the most effective instruments for defending their civil and labor rights but also grossly violate the Constitution of the country and the ILO Convention No. 87 “On Freedom of Association” ratified by Belarus, which guarantees them the right to strike.”

The Executive Committee of the BKDP adopted a statement in which it notes that the introduction by the Council of Ministers and the adoption by the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of amendments to the legislation regulating labor relations without preliminary consideration and agreement with social partners - employers and trade unions, in fact, canceled out and turned into fiction social dialogue in the country.

The BKDP Executive Committee requires the Council of Ministers to immediately withdraw the draft law on amendments to the legislation on labor relations, and from the PPNS to immediately cancel the decision adopted on April 2 in the first reading as a violation of the country's Constitution, ILO Convention No. 87 "On Freedom of Association" and the established procedure for making decisions in the field of labor relations, excluding their acceptance without the consent of the social partners - employers and trade unions.

The BKDP Executive Committee informs the House of Representatives of the National Assembly and the government that the governing body of the independent trade union center has prepared and sent to the Director General of the ILO a request for immediate intervention as a procedure applied in emergency circumstances and requiring an urgent response to the situation with workers' rights on the part of the ILO and its leadership.

The ILO leadership has already confirmed that the procedure has been launched.