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EU Statement - ILO 335th GB - Follow-up to the resolution concerning the measures recommended by the Governing Body under article 33 of the ILO Constitution on the subject of Belarus

24.11.2025
Geneva
Press and information team of the Delegation to the UN in Geneva

ILO Governing Body, 355th session

17 – 27 November 2025

Follow-up to the resolution concerning the measures recommended by the Governing Body under article 33 of the ILO Constitution on the subject of Belarus

GB.355/INS/8

EU statement

 

Chair,

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

The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania1, Ukraine, the EFTA countries Iceland and Norway, as well as the UK, align themselves with this statement.

  1. We thank the Office for the report and welcome the presence of the ILO Special Envoy to Belarus. His mandate is essential in light of the grave and persistent violations by Belarus of fundamental labour rights. We urge that budgetary constraints do not undermine the financing of his work, which is essential for accountability and progress.
  2. We welcome the engagement of UN special mechanisms who have addressed labour and employment issues in Belarus. Their findings reinforce the urgency of coordinated international action.
  3. Equally, the numerous contributions to the report from ILO constituents reflect a shared commitment to implementing the Article 33 resolution. Given the gravity of the situation, the EU has imposed several rounds of sanctions, the latest in March targeting key individuals and entities responsible for human rights abuses.
  4. We remain gravely concerned by the deteriorating human rights situation in Belarus and strongly condemn the ongoing gross, systematic and widespread human rights violations, including violations of labour rights. We deplore the continuing persecution of independent trade unionists and the persistent disregard of  the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry. Belarus must step up its efforts without further delay to fully implement the guidance, conclusions and recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry, the supervisory bodies and the Governing Body.
  5. We deplore the unprecedented level of repression by the Belarusian authorities against independent trade unionists, civil society organisations, democratic opposition forces, and all other segments of Belarusian society, including forced labour, torture, arbitrary detention, and release of political prisoners without exoneration or rehabilitation. The situation has further worsened since the Belarusian regime's involvement in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
  6. We deplore the climate of state violence, intimidation and fear in Belarus, the continuing deterioration of freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining and the erosion of the rule of law exemplified by the complete lack of impartiality and independence of the judiciary system. We stress the obligation to uphold the rights of political prisoners, including the right to due process and a fair trial.
  7. We strongly denounce the ongoing harassment of trade unionists, who are being targeted solely for their engagement with the ILO. This reflects a deliberate policy of marginalization. While we acknowledge the release of Mr. Yarashuk and Mr. Fiadynich two months before their expected official release, acts of repression against them, such as forced deportation, and seizure of personal belongings, including essential medication and personal correspondence, are unacceptable.
  8. We remain concerned about the conditions of imprisonment of trade union leaders and activists, particularly those in serious need of medical attention.
  9. We note with concern the CFA and CAS conclusions concerning strong dependence of FPB upon the Belarusian authorities and increasing state control and interference in the activity of this organisation.
  10. We urge the Belarusian authorities to cooperate with the ILO Special Envoy and to accept the humanitarian and tripartite missions without further delay, to immediately and unconditionally release and effectively rehabilitate all political prisoners, including imprisoned trade unionists, and to restore the rights and functioning of independent unions.
  11. We reaffirm our strong support to the application of Article 33 of the ILO Constitution and will continue to take measures in line with the ILC 2023 resolution in order to secure compliance by the authorities of Belarus with the Commission of Inquiry's recommendations.

In light of the above we support the draft decision.

Thank you, Chair.

 

1North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process