ILO Governing Body, 349th session

30 October– 9 November 2023

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.349/INS/13

EU statement

Chair,

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

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

1. The EU and its Member States are committed to the respect, protection, and fulfilment of human rights, including labour rights. We promote universal ratification and effective implementation of fundamental ILO Conventions and support the ILO in developing and promoting international labour standards and supervising their application.
2. The EU and its Member States deeply regret the persistent failure of the authorities of Belarus to observe Belarus’ obligations under ILO Conventions Nos. 87 and 98, and to meaningfully progress towards the implementation of the Commission of Inquiry recommendations from July 2004. Moreover, we continue to be deeply concerned about the steep deterioration of the human rights situation, including violations of labour rights, in Belarus since the 2020 presidential elections, which were neither free nor fair. The situation has worsened further since Belarus’ involvement in the Russian Federation’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
3. We continue to condemn the violence perpetrated by the Lukashenko regime, which silences the free voices of workers and independent trade unions and inhibits the full exercise of their civil liberties pursuant to their legitimate trade union activities.
4. We reiterate our support for the call of the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations on the authorities of Belarus to abandon their policy of destroying the independent trade union movement, as well as to engage with the ILO, especially by fully implementing all outstanding recommendations of the ILO supervisory bodies without further delay.
5. We are deeply concerned by the arbitrary arrest and arbitrary detention imposed on trade union leaders and members for participating in peaceful assemblies or for exercising their civil liberties pursuant to their legitimate trade union activities. We urge the authorities to adhere to the country’s international obligations to respect, protect and fulfil human rights, immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners, and others detained on politically motivated charges in Belarus, including trade unionists, and drop all related charges. We condemn the presidential decree of September 4, 2023 denying the country’s citizens the right to obtain or renew their passports or to process other essential documents at Belarusian diplomatic missions, in order to pressure Belarussian citizens in exile to go back to the country and face potential persecution. 
6. We are particularly concerned about the deteriorating conditions of imprisonment of several political prisoners, including Mr Yarashuk, a Governing Body member, and Mr. Berasneu, an independent trade union leader, and call upon the responsible Belarusian authorities to refrain from any action which would further impair their situation, and provide necessary medical care.
7. We urge the authorities of Belarus to receive as a matter of urgency an ILO tripartite mission, including a visit to the independent trade union leaders and activists in prison or detention.
8. 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.
9. We further reaffirm our support to the application of Article 33 of the ILO Constitution and support an effective follow-up to the resolution adopted at the 111^th International Labour Conference in June 2023. The EU has imposed successive rounds of sanctions since 2020, most recently on 3 August 2023, to address continued human rights violations, including labour rights violations, and the constantly worsening internal repression. We appreciate the ILO’s cooperation with the UN Special Rapporteurs. We call on all Member States to implement the June 2023 ILC resolution and inform the Office of measures taken.
10. 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 and will take further appropriate measures in line with the June 2023 ILC resolution as needed. In light of this, we support the draft decision.
11. As regards the amendment proposed by The Workers’ Group, we are supportive. We would like to hear the views of the Office on the best way forward on this proposed action plan.

Thank you.

[*Albania and the Republic of North Macedonia* continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.]