ILO may consider sanctions against Belarus over trade unions’ persecution

November 3, BPN. The International Labor Organization (ILO) may consider sanctions against Belarus for its failure to respect the rights of independent trade unions.

The issue may be raised at the 111th session of the International Labor Conference in June 2023.

The provision is included in the ILO’s draft agenda scheduled for consideration on November 8. It urges Belarus’ authorities “to immediately release all trade union leaders and members arrested for participating in peaceful assemblies.”

Belarusian authorities have until March 2023 to respond to the ILO’s report on trade union rights in Belarus.

At least 23 Belarusian trade unionists are under arrest or had freedom of movement restricted, the ILO said, noting that “no progress had been made” to implement previous ILO recommendations. It urged Belarusian authorities to “ensure full respect for freedom of association” and allow ILO officials to investigate the conditions of the trade unionists’ arrest.

A wave of arrests of independent trade union activists swept across Belarus in mid-April. Human rights defenders declared the arrested trade union activists political prisoners. Their trials are scheduled for November.

In July, the Supreme Court ruled to shut down all Belarusian independent trade unions as well as their umbrella organization, the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions.

International trade union organizations condemned the crackdown and urged authorities to immediately restore workers’ right to freedom of association.