To be continued?
The regular meeting of the National Tripartite Council on Labor and Social Issues (NCLSI) finally has resumed its work on November 1, 2007 after it had stood idle for nine month. The meeting was preceded by the letter of the NCLSI member Alexander Yaroshuk addressed the three of NCLSI co-chairpersons: First Deputy Prime-Minister V.Semashko, Chairperson of the FPB L.Kozik and the Chairperson of the Confederation of Industrialists and Employers A.Kharlap. In his address the leader of independent unions pointed out to the violation of order of work of this body and insisted on immediate calling of the meeting and to discuss the urgent issues of social and economic life of the country. It was amazing but the initiative of A.Yaroshuk unexpectedly was supported by L.Kozik of FPB, who, a week ago, has decided to meet V.Semashko with the same proposition to resume the work of NCLSI.
Probably, the efforts of both union leaders were not in vain. The long-awaited sitting of the NCLSI has taken place and was carried on in a more or less constructive manner. During the discussion of the implementation course of 2007 General Agreement between the Government of Belarus, workers’ and employers’ organizations quite a lot of burning issues causing great concern of many citizens of the country were raised. One of them was the issue linked with abolishment of benefits for the most vulnerable categories of population in Belarusian society. The government representatives assured the partners that the saved money would not be directed to other purposes but would be redistributed among those who really are in need. It was also agreed by three sides that the Government would publish in mass media the information on whereto and how the saved resources would be redistributed and spent.
As it was expected the discussion of the document on “Draft Law on Trade Unions of Belarus” has caused a particular interest of the participants. The questions to the Minister of Justice V.Golovanov, who was presenting the draft law, were put mostly by the representatives of independent unions, because the destiny of independent union movement in Belarus as well as the future relations between the Belarus Government and the International labor organization (ILO) depend on whether a new version law would be adopted or not. Moreover, the adoption of the new law will directly influence the faith of the GSP system for Belarus.
We can state definitely that the position of the Government concerning the content of the new law has not changed substantially for the last several months and this cannot but cause regrets since the draft law on trade unions has a clear anti-trade union character and makes the conditions of setting up and functioning of trade unions in the country very complicated. This document is to be named not the draft law on trade unions but rather the draft law on implementing control over trade unions. It is not normal as well that such an important document for the workers is being worked out and discussed exclusively by state officials. The workers themselves having direct connection to the law are deprived of the right to participate in the discussion and designing of the law.
It should be also noted that the Government representatives who were giving the trade unionists explanations on the draft law stated that the discussion on this law has not ended yet and it would be continued in different bodies including the NCLSI.
The First Prime-Minister V.Semashko proposed to have the next meeting of the NCLSI on December 15 of the current year. Is the continuation of the dialogue to be continued?
| 06.11.2007 |
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