Repression of free trade unions in Belarus over the past decades culminated in 2022 with the dissolution of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BKDP) and its affiliates and arrests and detention of more than 40 trade union leaders and activists, including BKDP President Yarashuk and Vice-President Antusevich.
In view of this escalation of repression of free trade unionism and the persistent failure of the Belarus regime to implement the findings of the 2004 ILO Commission of Inquiry, the forthcoming International Labour Conference (ILC) must agree to take action under Article 33 of the ILO Constitution:
- to pressure the Government to release trade union leaders and activists
- to insist that the Government reinstate the unions
- to demonstrate the Government’s real commitment to implement the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry
Click HERE to read the full Global Unions’ statement.
IUF General Secretary Sue Longley stated, “We urge all IUF affiliates around the world to press their governments and employers’ organizations to vote with the worker representatives at the ILC in support of a comprehensive set of measures involving the ILO bodies, Member States and international organizations, including the United Nations, to put an end to the flagrant violations of human rights and trade union rights in the country.”
