**ILO Governing Body, 353rd session**
**10 – 20 March 2025**
**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.353/INS7**
**Group statement**
Chair,
I speak on behalf of the following 35 countries: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and my own country, the Netherlands.
1. Almost two years have passed since the adoption of article 33 resolution by the International Labour Conference and more than twenty years have passed since the Commission of Inquiry issued its recommendations on complaint against Belarus.
2. For all these years, despite the repeated calls on Belarus for compliance with the International Labour Standards; despite the evidence of repression against independent trade unions and their leaders; despite the deterioration of the human rights situation, and despite destruction of civic space and civil society, the Belarusian authorities have continued to violate their obligations under the fundamental ILO Conventions Nos 87 and 98 with impunity. This has been once again reflected in the recent report of the Committee of Experts.
3. Our governments observe with deep regret the lack of concrete measures taken by the Belarusian authorities to give effect to the requests of the ILO supervisory bodies.
4. We are deeply concerned about the continued reports from the BKDP and UN human rights bodies revealing that the right of workers to form and join organizations of their own choosing has been practically eradicated in Belarus.
5. We deplore the continuous use of criminal sanctions against trade unionists engaged in legitimate trade union activities, and the judicial harassment of trade union members. This situation has worsened further since Belarus’ involvement in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. We strongly condemn the ongoing persecution of trade unionists, many of whom have been arrested, imprisoned, had their freedom restricted, or released without exoneration. Those who have been released face severe restrictions, including police surveillance, professional bans, financial control and movement restrictions.
6. The growing practice of trials in absentia and without basic fair trial guarantees is another alarming practice. We call on Belarusian authorities to immediately halt these practices and ensure that all individuals have access to legal representation and transparent judicial proceedings.
7. We remind the Belarusian authorities that it is the responsibility of the government to ensure a climate free from violence, threats or pressure against peacefully protesting workers. We urge them to respect, protect and fulfil human rights and call for the immediate and unconditional release and effective rehabilitation of all arbitrarily detained persons.
8. Given the repeated grave allegations concerning the nomination of the Workers’ delegation of Belarus to the ILC, we urge the authorities of Belarus to nominate non-Government delegates and advisers to the ILC in agreement with the most representative, genuine and independent workers’ and employers’ organizations.
9. We stand in full support for the Office’s ongoing and committed efforts to implement the 2023 ILC resolution, and to take steps to follow up on the latest decision of the CAS.
10. We encourage further coordinated efforts of the ILO, other UN agencies, Special Procedures and international stakeholders, such as establishing a working group, to ensure joint action towards the Belarus’ compliance with the International Labour Standards. We call on the ILO Director-General to secure an appointment of a special envoy as soon as possible.
11. To conclude, we call on Belarus to comply with its international obligations and, to this end, cooperate with the ILO and its bodies. We urge the Belarusian authorities to receive as a matter of urgency an ILO tripartite mission to independently assess the situation and visit trade unionists that are currently in prison or detention. We call on them to accept an international humanitarian mission to ensure that independent doctors can visit all imprisoned trade unionists. We urge the Belarusian authorities to engage with the ILO Special Envoy, once appointed.
12. With this, we support the original decision point.