BKDP representative speaks at the conference of the General Federation of Labour of Belgium

Maksim Pazniakou, Deputy Chair of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions, took part in a conference of the Fédération générale du travail de Belgique (FGTB), where he spoke about the situation of workers and the independent trade union movement in Belarus.

In his speech, he recalled that Belarus remains the only country in Europe where independent trade unions are completely banned by the state. Pazniakou stressed that, following the liquidation of the BKDP and its affiliated organisations, more than 70 trade union leaders and activists were subjected to criminal prosecution, while over 20 people remain imprisoned solely for their lawful trade union activity. Belarusian workers, he said, have been deprived of the right to freely establish trade unions, choose their representatives and engage in collective bargaining.

He also drew attention to the growing state control over the labour market, the political discrimination of workers, pressure over civic views, and the use of forced labour practices.

Despite arrests, prison sentences and forced exile, the Belarusian democratic trade union movement continues its work in exile, documents labour rights violations and fights for the release of its colleagues. Maksim Pazniakou called on the international community to keep attention focused on the situation in Belarus, support the families of repressed trade union activists, and push for the restoration of freedom of association.

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