ITUC: Government of Belarus must immediately end repression against trade unions

    The General Secretary of the International Confederation of Trade Unions (ITUC) Sharan Burrow asked for the urgent intervention of the International Labour Organization in connection with the repressions against the activists of the Free Metalworkers’ Union (SPM). This is stated in a letter to ILO Director General Guy Ryder.

    ITUC General Secretary called on the International Labour Organization to urgently appeal to the government of Belarus in connection with the repression against the Free Metalworkers’ Union and the arrest of its deputy Aleksander Evdokimchik.

    On February 24, 2022, in the afternoon, unknown persons in civilian clothes broke into the office of the Free Metalworkers’ Union without presenting documents, searched the office, seized office equipment and mobile phones from the office management and employees. SPM Deputy Chairman Aleksandr Evdokimchik was arrested and taken away to an undisclosed location. Earlier that day, SPM lawyer Igor Komlik had been arrested.

    Sharan Burrow: “We condemn the ongoing and systematic intimidation, harassment and repression by the government of Belarus against trade unions. We urge you to intervene immediately in order to insist that the government of Belarus respect its obligations under ILO Conventions 87 and 98, and that Aleksandr Evdokimchik and other arrested trade unionists be released immediately. The Government of Belarus must immediately end repression against trade unions.

    02.03.2022