Belarusian Unions Step Up Fight Against Workplace Injuries
"Trade unions carry out extensive preventive work together with social partners. Nevertheless, occupational injury issues remain relevant across almost all industries. Despite stricter accountability for compliance with labor safety laws and incentive measures, violations are still quite common. Based on our experience, we see the need to strengthen explanatory work in workplaces and to analyze cases and nuances of safety regulations directly at workplaces," said Anna Varfolomeieva, Secretary for International Affairs of the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus.
The main cause of injuries is still human factor, meaning the neglect of safety measures, carelessness, and alcohol intoxication.
Trade unions continuously work to improve occupational safety. In the first 6 months of this year, labor technical inspectors conducted over 4,200 inspections and monitoring visits at organizations and enterprises to check compliance with labor safety legislation. More than 29,000 violations were identified.
At the Council meeting, it was decided to deepen the work on consulting employers and assisting them in creating safe working conditions.
GCTU News
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GCTU Discusses Amendments to Confederation’s Charter
On September 15, Moscow hosted a meeting of the Working Group on Preparing Amendments and Additions to the Charter of the General Confederation of Trade Unions (GCTU) at the Trade Unions Palace of Labor. Participants reviewed proposals from member organizations regarding necessary changes to the Confederation’s founding document.
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Wage Standards in the CIS Must Reach a New Level
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A Unified Registry of Collective Agreements Should Be Established in the CIS
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