Aliaksandr Jarashuk: Authoritative system is rapidly transforming into totalitarian

State trade unions acquire special role in forming totalitarian system.

The news about the transfer of all workers to terminal work contracts caught Aliaksandr Jarashuk, the head of Belarusan Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BCDTU), in Geneva, where the Conference of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights held a meeting on November 13. Before the conference Mr. Jarashuk met with the Committee members and brought them the latest information about the events in Belarus.

On November 12 Aliaksandr Lukashenka stated that during the next six months work contracts should be introduced everywhere: “Still many people are working without a contract. Trade unions have to attend to this problem. Everything should be in order; this is world practice”.

However, the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights was surprised with this statement.

The situation to the EuroBelarus Information Service described Aliaksandr Jarashuk, the head of BCDTU.

- For now I don’t know  which recommendations the Committee finally made. But it will hardly welcome such dubious initiatives of Belarusan authorities. We were discussing work on a contracting basis in the context of forced labor; and forced labor – as an evolution of labor legislation. Europe rounded its eyes with amazement when hearing that.

Let us recall that recently Aliaksandr Lukashenka has issued a presidential edict ordering punitive and other measures following his visit to AAT Barysaudreu, a woodworking company in Minsk region.

After this case at AAT Barysaudreu two variants of actions were left for the authorities: either to recognize that their policy has failed and make a painful decision about the liberalization of the economy, or to tighten screws; which they did. Personally, I can understand the logic for such a decision. But no great loss can be without some small gain.

The authorities took the right way on making their politics completely absurd. For the moment about 90 per cent of the workers are on terminal work contracts already. However, this policy won’t be stopped at that point, but will continue with introduction of amendments into the labor code. Thus, authoritative system is rapidly transforming into totalitarian.

And it is the workers who are always victims in such situations, as the authorities can no longer control social and economic situation in the country. They see tightening the screws as the only way to regain control over the situation. It is most likely that the state will continue the nationalization of enterprises, as any private enterprise is potentially dangerous for the system.

The state has to spread its totalitarian control over the economy, workers, in order to avert the threat of social tension growth. The state is ready to suppress the outbreaks of social tension using the toughest measures for that. Belarusian regime persistently pursues its policy, bringing its end closer.

It is most likely that the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus will be authorized with the special state control functions. State trade unions acquired special role in forming totalitarian system, as their aim is to establish total control over the workers.