BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

27/06/2007

Belarusian Authorities Block Initiative To Amend Labor-Contract System

The Central Election Commission (TsVK) on June 26 denied registration to a group that hoped to change the country's fixed-term labor-contract system, Belapan reported. The group -- led by Henadz Fyadynich, leader of the Belarusian Union of Electronics Industry Workers -- needed TsVK registration to launch a campaign to initiate changes to labor laws that would scrap the fixed-term contract requirement for employees. The group planned to collect 50,000 signatures, which would make it possible to put the issue on the agenda of the Chamber of Representatives, Belarus's lower legislative chamber. The TsVK argued that the group's founding conference in May was attended by 246 people, while at least 248 were required for the 495-strong group to be registered. The TsVK also said the changes to labor laws proposed by the group are inconsistent with the constitution and other regulations. Fyadynich told journalists later the same day that he will continue pushing amendments to the contract system, which he described as "slave-like." President Alyaksandr Lukashenka introduced a short-term contract system for employees of state-owned businesses in 2004, replacing the previous life-term one. The system has been extensively criticized by the Belarusian opposition and independent trade unionists, who assert that the government uses it to dismiss independent union members and opposition political activists. JM

Source:

http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2007/06/3-cee/cee-270607.asp

Google