News on the topic: labor rights
19.12.2024 Harmful, dirty, meaningless: what kind of work do political prisoners do in Belarusian penal colonies
Viasna analyzed the work of political prisoners in Belarusian penal colonies and came to disappointing conclusions: meager salaries, danger to health, and the risks of persecution.
16.08.2024 "I allegedly wanted to organize a strike in the industrial zone by the first anniversary of the protests". The story of a former political prisoner
Hleb told Viasna about writing a statement of refusal to work and being accused of preparing a strike for the first anniversary of the elections at the industrial zone in Navapolack colony No. 1.
11.06.2024 The results of the first decade of the new stage of the world struggle against forced labor. The experience of Belarus and its closest neighbors
Together with Viasna human rights activist Aleh Matskevich, we talk about the international and Belarusian practice of eliminating forced labor through the ratification of these important international documents.
28.05.2024 Forced labor in Belarus in the light of global assessments
Together with Viasna human rights activist Aleh Matskevich, we continue to talk about forced labor in Belarus in the context of international standards.
03.05.2024 Forced labor: how the Belarusian government does (not) comply with international obligations
We have discussed with Viasna human rights activist Aleh Matskevich what forced labor is, how its prohibition is regulated, and also analyzed what Belarus has (not) done to abolish forced labor.
23.02.2024 Libereco demands an independent investigation into greenwashing by FSC in Belarus
In an open letter initiated by Libereco Earthsight, MEPs and environmental and human rights NGOs call for an investigation into the certification of Belarusian penal colonies by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
28.12.2023 "They didn't replace us, they just didn't hire anyone instead." Labor contract as a method of repression
Two teachers from one Belarusian university told Viasna how they were dismissed when their contracts were not renewed and how they were denied the right to a profession.
17.02.2023 Rabochy rukh group members receive 11 to 15 year in jail for high treason and creating extremist group
Political prisoners have been in custody for 17 months.
05.10.2021 Release Rabochy Rukh activists Ihar Mints and Natallia Belabekhava
Joint statement of Belarusian human rights organizations
28.09.2021 Human rights groups call to release detained trade union activists
Joint statement by Belarusian human rights organizations
01.02.2021 Workers sentenced to prison terms over political strike
Three employees of the government-owned BMZ steel works were found guilty of “breaching public order” (Part 1 of Art. 342 of the Criminal Code) during a strike demanding political change organized at the enterprise on August 17. Ihar Povarau, who was earlier called a political prisoner, has been sentenced to three years in prison, while Aliaksandr Babrou and Yauhen Hovar – to two and half years each.
27.10.2020 Amid vicious crackdown on peaceful protesters, authorities arrest workers planning strike
The Belarusian government must immediately end police violence against peaceful protesters. Authorities must immediately and unconditionally release all those arrested and facing administrative or criminal proceedings merely for trying to exercise their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, and their rights to form independent associations and to strike.
10.09.2020 ILO calls on Belarus President to respect workers’ rights and freedoms amid protests
International Labour Organization Director-General, Guy Ryder, expresses deep concern about the detention and arrest of trade unionists in Belarus.
23.08.2017 Civil Rights Defenders: Belarus Must Drop Charges Against Ihar Komlik and Henadz Fiadynich
Civil Rights Defenders calls upon the Belarusian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Ihar Komlik and to drop all charges against Ihar Komlik and Henadz Fiadynich.
14.08.2017 Henadz Fiadynich charged with tax evasion
Henadz Fiadynich, head of the independent Trade Union of Radio and Electronic Industry (REP), has been officially charged with tax evasion, BelaPAN said quoting the Investigative Committee’s spokesperson Yuliya Hancharova.
