19 March 2024, Tuesday, 11:26
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Aliaksandr Yarashuk: Authorities afraid of Belarusian workers

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Aliaksandr Yarashuk: Authorities afraid of Belarusian workers

That is why Lukashenka wants to set up pro-governmental trade unions even in private companies.

Aliaksandr Lukashenka said today at the congress of the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus in Minsk that trade unions must be opened at all enterprises regardless of their form of ownership within next year. Aliaksandr Yarashuk, the head of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions, said in an interview with charter97.org that such a step was predictable as a reaction to growing social tensions.

<>i“This demand is an exhaustive description of the political system of Belarus. It is tough, authoritarian, with clear elements of totalitarianism. The state gives an order to open trade unions... How is it possible? Such organisations must be voluntary. Can you imagine that 100% of workers, including those of private companies, join these “voluntary” organisations?” the expert wonders.

– Why did Lukashenka give such an order?

– We can only be happy about such odious orders, because we will not have to explain what the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus is and how it can protect workers' rights. It is obvious that it will defend the government from workers rather than workers from the government. This is the aim of such orders. By making workers members of the deliberately non-volunteer organisation ruled by trade union bureaucrats, they want to strictly control workers and keep them on a tight leash.

– The initiative looks dubious.

– It rather inspires us than disappoints, because it makes things clear. Even the people who had hopes for possible changes in the country will lose their illusions. No one is going to change anything. Liberalisation is impossible. There are no signs of democratisation. They build a tough authoritarian system.

– Does it mean that Lukashenka wants representatives of the authorities to be present at every private enterprise?

– Trade unions already exist at state-owned enterprises. The target of the initiative is private companies. I understand how “happy” representatives of few private firms and companies are. They will have to deal with yellow pro-governmental trade unions that bear no relation to the protection of workers' rights. They are just an element of the government's system to control employees. It proves that the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus is an integral part of the state administration system.

– Why were such measures proposed now?

– The country is entering the most severe social and economic crisis it ever has in its recent history. As the reaction to the current events is inadequate and the measures that should be taken in such a situation are not taken, the regime is afraid of the growth of social tension. You know that workers are laid off en masse from big state-own plants – MAZ, MTZ, Gomselmash, etc. This is only the beginning of the process. Many plants work short weeks or don't work at all. Of course, it can aggravate social tensions. The authorities are afraid of their own workers and try to keep them under control. This is the reason why such a short time was given to implement the order. The situation may develop in an unpredictable way. The authorities are afraid of any sign of the growth of social tensions and a possibility of protests.

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