GB.346/INS/13(Rev.1)/Decision

Decision concerning the consideration of any further measures, including those foreseen in the ILO Constitution, to secure compliance by the Government of Belarus with the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry

Record of decisions | 08 November 2022
The Governing Body, on the recommendation of its Officers:

(a) deplored that no progress had been made by the Government of Belarus in implementing the recommendations of the 2004 Commission of Inquiry;

(b) urged the Government to ensure full respect for freedom of association and, in particular, revoke all legislative and other measures directly or indirectly having the effect of outlawing independent trade unions or employers’ organizations;

(c) urged the Government to immediately release all trade union leaders and members arrested for participating in peaceful assemblies or arrested for exercising their civil liberties pursuant to their legitimate trade union activities and drop all related charges;

(d) urged the Government to allow the ILO, as a matter of urgency, to ascertain the conditions of arrest and detention and the welfare of the abovementioned trade unionists;

(e) noted that the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations will be reviewing the application of the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) in Belarus at its November-December 2022 meeting;

(f) urged the Government to submit all information regarding the measures taken to implement all outstanding recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry and in respect of the more recent developments forming part of the complaint to the Committee on Freedom of Association for its examination at its March 2023 meeting;

(g) requested the Director-General to submit to the Governing Body at its 347th Session (March 2023) a document detailing options for measures under article 33 of the ILO Constitution as well as other measures to secure compliance by the Government of Belarus with the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry taking account of the views expressed;

(h) decided to place on the agenda of the 111th Session (2023) of the International Labour Conference an item concerning measures under article 33 of the ILO Constitution to secure compliance by the Government of Belarus with the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry.

(GB.346/INS/13(Rev.1), paragraph 15)