“Now authorities accuse ILO itself”

A session of the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Governing Body concluded its work in Geneva; the GB discussed the situation in Belarus, among other things.

A Resolution has been adopted, stating that the Government of Belarus has again failed to provide any new information on measures taken to implement the Commission of Inquiry’s recommendations. The document also calls upon the Belarusian authorities to revise their position and start fully fledged cooperation with the Special Envoy Lelio Bentes Correa whose mandate was extended by the GB for another year in 2026 (you will recall that the official Minsk refuses to accept his mandate).

Also, the ILO Governing Body noted the release of the union leaders Aliaksandr Yarashuk and Gennady Fedynich, urging the Government to return their passports to them and resume the payment of their pension benefits without further delay; the GB once again requested the Government of Belarus to receive, as a matter of priority, an international humanitarian mission that would enable independent medical experts to visit all incarcerated union activists in order to assess the state of their health and provide proper medical care, should that prove necessary, as well as accept a tripartite ILO mission to assess the situation in the country.

The Resolution was supported by 40 GB members, with 2 (representing Russia and China) voting against it and 9 members abstaining.

The Acting President of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions Maksim Pazniakau pointed out, while talking to Salidarnast, that this outcome was quite expected. The International Labour Organization (ILO) is absolutely unconvinced by the arguments that our country’s authorities persistently voice.

“Speaking on behalf of the Belarusian Government at the session was Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Protection Oleg Tokun, another official broadcasting the same narrative we have heard from the Government in the recent years. We heard nothing new, although there had been a hope that the Government would come to its senses and start a constructive engagement with the ILO to bring the situation back to normal.

“However, that did not happen and the position of Lukashenka’s regime remains unchanged: an all-out assault on independent unions who are forced to operate abroad today; accusations against them claiming that their activities seek to discredit Belarus at the behest of a group of Western countries that allegedly sponsored a coup d’état attempt in 2020 and that independent unions were calling for sanctions; along with statements that there are no political prisoners in the country and all persons in question are, in fact, convicted criminals, etc.”

Moreover, now the authorities went on to accuse the ILO itself, claiming that the organization was unwilling to listen to them and engage in a dialogue! Although numerous reports presented to various international structures give a clear picture of the current situation of human rights in the country, including transgressions in the world of work.

In the opinion of Lukashenka’s regime, the ILO should put aside all of its principles and rules and accept the reality – which is what it is, sorry, but let us use this as the basis for a constructive dialogue. Forgetting that the independent trade union movement in the country has been destroyed, 20 union leaders and activists are still in jail, and a vastly greater number of people have become victims of administrative arrests, criminal prosecution, and arbitrary dismissals.

Addressing the session online was also a member of the ILO Governing Body Aliaksandr Yarashuk. He spoke of his situation, of the fact that his release had proved to be, in essence, just another, and utterly cynical, form of repression on the part of the Belarusian State, and how it all had happened.

It would be very important for Aliaksandr Ilyich to address the GB session in Geneva in person but he cannot travel because his passport had been seized by the authorities during the release procedure.

Also, speaking for the Workers’ Group which fully supports Belarusian independent unions, was a representative of British trade unions Amanda Brown. The Employers’ Group also supported the draft resolution on Belarus. Denmark supported the draft, speaking for the EU, Moldova, and Ukraine. Lithuania spoke for the Nordic and Baltic countries. Speakers also included Canada speaking for Australia, New Zealand, and the UK, and France.

Russia spoke against the BKDP and Lelio Bentes Correa. Yet, a representative of the Brazilian Government supported the Special Envoy’s mandate and assured the GB members of his absolute impartiality and political neutrality. And the extension of Correa’s mandate to 2026 is a very positive decision.

The international community’s opinion remains steady and consistent. This is why all attempts of the Belarusian authorities to prevaricate have been fruitless for a very long time now.

Still, we harbor cautious optimism, hoping that common sense prevails and the ILO platform will see a start of an honest and fair dialogue on Belarus. The Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions has been, is, and will be a part of all these processes. These are today’s facts of life and the Government of Belarus cannot brush them off.

Victoria Leontieva

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