Authorities afraid of ILO sanctions

• 4.06.2008, 8:29

Ahead of the session of the International Labour Organisation, Uladzimir Patupchyk, minister of labour and social protection of Belarus, met with Alyaksandr Yarashuk, chairman of the Congress of Democratic trade Unions.

The bilateral meeting was held on 29 May, ahead of Alyaksandr Yarashuk’s leaving for Geneva, where the ILO Committee on the Application of Standards is to consider a “Belarusian issue” on 5 June.

Alyaksandr Yarashuk, head of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BCDTU), and minister of labour and social protection Uladzimir Patupchyk discussed the situation on fulfilling the 12 ILO’s recommendations by the government. According to Yarashuk the conversation was “not easy.” The current situation is worsening because there were no breakthroughs in the removing of violations of trade union rights over the last year, so principal position of the ILO Committee on the Application of Standards towards evaluation of the actions of the government as well as its strict decision are predictable.”

“I have an impression that it is the first time over the last years when the government at last begins to realise what disastrous results the country can face due to the conflict with the ILO and the European Union on violation of rights of trade unions, what threat it subjects the country to, continuing its policy of ignoring ILO’s recommendations. It is obviously positive moment for us. If we see we deal with an interested desire to mend the situation, not another attempt to manipulate independent trade union movement and international pubic opinion, we will be ready to look for compromises during the Conference in Geneva,” BCDTU head A. Yarashuk said in an interview to “Tovarishch” newspaper.