Belarus is denied EU trade preferences again

Implementation of recommendations of the International Labor Organization (ILO) on securing freedom of trade unions in Belarus was discussed at the Labor Conference in Geneva on 9 June.

‘The Committee on the Application of Standards called on the government of Belarus to enhance efforts on securing workers’ freedom of association in Belarus. The Committee hopes to notice a significant progress in this direction next year,’ the website of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BCDTU) reports.

BCDTU’s leader Aliaksandr Yarashuk, who attended the conference, supposes the Belarusian government was given homework again. He thinks the International Labour Organization ‘continues to control the situation on securing workers’ freedom of association’.

‘In 2007, Belarus was punished by withdrawing preferences in trade with EU countries over numerous violations of the rights of independent trade unions in Belarus. The decision was made on a recommendation of the International Labour Organization monitoring the situation in Belarus for 10 years. The today’s decision in Geneva means that the sanctions against Belarus won’t be lifted. The government was given a year to improve the situation with workers’ right to association,’ BCDTU’s press secretary Iryna But-Husaim explained to RFE/RL.