Pickets against employment contracts banned across Belarus
The city executive
committee of Mahiliou forbade holding a picket in front of the city
administration building on 7 October, the World Day for Decent Work.
The ban was imposed due to choosing an improper place for public events. The
organizer of the picket, member of the Electronic Industry Trade Union Aliaksei Yauhenau, says deputy
committee head Mikalai Mikhalenia
offered to carry out on the stadium in Chaliuskintsau Street, RFE/RL reports.
“It's clear that the stadium is not suitable for holding a picket – no one will
notice it there. About 30 planned to take part in the picket in front of the
city executive committee building. We were going to demand the government to
cancel the system of fixed-term employment contracts that violates
international standards, the Belarusian Constitution and labour legislation and
stop discrimination in labour relations, including discrimination over
membership in independent trade unions. We were also going to demand equal
opportunities for exercising the right to work, safe work conditions and decent
pay. We faced a rather difficult situation with pay and unemployment. Of
course, the authorities do not want public protest actions and they banned the
picket. We earlier applied for holding a picket on the stadium. But our
applications were declined,” Yauhenau says.
The activist informs that pickets were also banned in Minsk,
Homel, Vitsebsk and Brest.
