29 March 2024, Friday, 18:28
Support
the website
Sim Sim,
Charter 97!
Categories

Aleh Vouchak: Foreign workers could become catalyst of social protest in Belarus

1
Aleh Vouchak: Foreign workers could become catalyst of social protest in Belarus
ALEH VOUCHAK
PHOTO: CHARTER97.ORG

Most of workers now – both Belarusian and foreign ones – are rather busy with collecting backdated wages, and not with earning money.

Charter97.org website has been told about that by Aleh Vouchak, the head of the human rights centre “Legal Assistance to the Population”, who commented on the situation with the wages which are held back in Belarus at the entities of all forms of ownership.

- Over the recent month the counseling office of our human rights centre has been visited by both foreigners and Belarusians, and they work not only at state-own enterprises, but at commercial entities, including the major ones.

Last week foreign citizens working at “Mayak Minska” construction site addressed our office. Alyaksandr Lukashenka wanted to make this construction a flagship construction project. Serbians, Georgians, Uzbeks, Belarusians, citizens of other countries are working there. They had a conflict with the administration, as they are not paid wages, and there are no prospects to improve the situation. Foreign workers from Eastern Europe are planning a strike.

We explained to them that they have a right for that undoubtedly. And secondly, first they should address consuls of their countries and explain the situation, to prevent provocations, and for the police not to present them as culprits later.

Summing up all public appeals over the last month, I could make a conclusion that either the enterprises, including large enterprises, have no current account money, or the money are kept on purpose with some intent. And I see that a protest of workers is brewing.

- What is your estimation of foreign workers’ role in social protests in Belarus – the ones that have happened, and the protests which are possible in the future?

- Foreign workers are more mobile in terms of asserting their rights. We remember the protest of the Chinese in Dobrush very well, and how the authorities came to terms with them. Now in Minsk foreign citizens plan to stage a strike.

- Foreign workers have nothing to lose. When I ask Belarusians, why they are so inactive, many people say: I will have to continue my work here, and I am promised that everything is to be paid in September, there is no opportunity to find another job.

Now Belarusians are rather busy but with trying to receive their backdated wages, and not with earning money.

Foreigners are more active in Belarus, and it turned out that they a numerous (we do not even know exactly the quantity of them in Belarus). That is why they could easily become a catalyst of social protests.

I am surprised that work of embassies of these countries to protect labour rights of their citizens is hardly visible. Solution of such conflicts should start primarily from appeals to consular divisions of their states.

Write your comment 1

Follow Charter97.org social media accounts