ILO Governing Body - Options for measures under article 33 of the ILO Constitution, as well as other measures, to secure compliance by the Government of Belarus with the[...]

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ILO Governing Body - Options for measures under article 33 of the ILO Constitution, as well as other measures, to secure compliance by the Government of Belarus with the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry in respect of Conventions Nos 87 and 98

24.03.2023 Press and information team of the Delegation to the UN in Geneva

European Union

Statement

ILO Governing Body, 347^th session

13 - 23 March 2023

Options for measures under article 33 of the ILO Constitution, as well as other measures, to secure compliance by the Government of Belarus with the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry in respect of Conventions Nos 87 and 98

GB.347/INS/14

Geneva, 20 March 2023

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ILO Governing Body, 347th session

13 - 23 March 2023

Options for measures under article 33 of the ILO Constitution, as well as other measures, to secure compliance by the Government of Belarus with the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry in respect of Conventions Nos 87 and 98

GB.347/INS/14

EU statement

Chair,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The Candidate Countries Albania*, the Republic of North Macedonia*, Moldova, Montenegro* and Ukraine, the EFTA countries Iceland and Norway members of the European Economic Area, and Switzerland, align themselves with this statement.

1. The EU and its Member States are committed to the promotion, protection, respect and fulfilment of human rights, including labour rights, such as Conventions 87 and 98. We strongly support the indispensable role of the ILO in developing, promoting, and supervising the application and implementation of ratified international labour standards, particularly fundamental Conventions.
2. As we have expressed at the 2022 sessions of the International Labour Conference and Governing Body, and on previous occasions as well, we deeply regret the lack of meaningful progress by the authorities of Belarus towards the implementation of 18-year old recommendations of the 2004 Commission of Inquiry as regards the implementation of ILO Conventions 87 and 98. Moreover, we continue to be deeply concerned about the steep deterioration of human rights, including labour rights, in Belarus since the 2020 presidential elections, which were neither free nor fair. These concerns have worsened further since Belarus' involvement in Russian Federation's war of aggression against Ukraine.
3. The EU and its Member States recall that at its recent, 93^rd Session in November-December 2022, the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations deplored the continuing deterioration of the situation in Belarus as all space for the safe existence of an independent trade union movement in Belarus has virtually disappeared. We join the call of the Committee on the authorities of Belarus to abandon their policy of destroying the independent trade union movement and silencing the free voices of workers, as well as to engage with the ILO with a view to fully implementing all outstanding recommendations of the ILO supervisory bodies without further delay.
4. We are aware that the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus continues to operate. However, given its very close links to the authorities of Belarus, we do not believe this organisation to be representative of Belarusian workers.
5. We are deeply concerned by the prison terms imposed by Belarusian courts on trade union leaders and members, and we request the release of all political detainees, including trade union members. The recent sentencing of twelve union leaders and members, amongst whom a Governing Body member, demonstrates that the situation keeps deteriorating. We reiterate the request made by the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations and the Committee on Freedom of Association to repeal several provisions of the Criminal Code in order to bring them into conformity with their obligations regarding freedom of association.
6. Belarus must step up its efforts without further delay and aim for the full implementation of the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry, thereby meeting the obligations it committed itself to by being a member of the ILO and in addition by voluntarily and willingly ratifying all ten fundamental Conventions of the ILO.
7. In light of the situation, we support the draft decision on measures to be taken by the Governing Body. We further reaffirm our support to the application of Article 33 of the ILO Constitution and support the adoption of a resolution that will form the basis of the decision to be taken at the 111^th International Labour Conference in June 2023.
8. Chair, the EU and its Member States are committed to working with the ILO and its constituents to secure compliance by the authorities of Belarus with the Commission of Inquiry's recommendations. We call on all constituents to support the draft decision as well as the adoption of the draft resolution that will send a strong message to the authorities of Belarus that they must respect human and labour rights and engage in a constructive dialogue with the ILO and its constituents.

Thank you.

[*Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.]