Belarus Drafted a Bill on New Guarantees for Workers
10-minute breaks in the heat and cold, the official registration of the remote working model, and documents on labor protection in an electronic form – such novelties are included in the draft law, which was developed by the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus (FPB). The bill was discussed on December 23 in Minsk at a meeting of the National Council on Labour and Social Issues, which comprises representatives of the Government, trade unions and employers’ associations.
“The President’s message talks about the constant analysis of legislation and its adaptation to new realities, which is important for the development of the economy. The National Council is a platform where we adapt the legal norms governing the labour sector to the current situation,” said Yuri Senko, Chairman of the FPB.
The bill, in particular, extends labour protection to new categories of workers, including those who work remotely. The digitalization of certain procedures is legally fixed, for example, the registration of labour protection documents in an electronic form.
At the initiative of the FPB, the bill includes a provision on the minimum breaks of 10 minutes for heating and recreation of workers who work outdoors in the cold and hot seasons.
GCTU News
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CIS Countries Change Their Approach to Women's Labor
A roundtable discussion titled "Labor Protection for Women" was held at the CIS Headquarters with the support of the Advisory Council on Labor, Employment, and Social Protection of the Population of the CIS Member States.
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For trade unions, March 8 is not just a day of spring and renewal.
For trade unions, March 8 is not just a day of spring and renewal.
For trade unions, March 8 is not merely a day of spring and renewal. Above all, it is an opportunity to once again reflect on the role of women in the world of work and in global development as a whole. Today, women perform 55% of the world’s total labor. They work longer hours than men—by 6 to 13 hours per week—and still earn less: on average, women’s wages amount to 66–84% of men’s wages, depending on the country. There is objective evidence that the more a country values women’s labor and the smaller the gender pay gap, the more developed its economy. A special issue is the “invisibility” of women’s domestic and, as experts call it, reproductive labor. This is why trade unions should continue to fight for justice for working women.
I congratulate all women of the CIS, my colleagues in the parliamentary corps, and women in trade unions on International Women’s Day. I wish you justice, decent work, success, and prosperity!
Viktor Pinsky
General Secretary of the General Confederation of Trade Unions, Member of the State Duma
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General Confederation of Trade Unions Proposes Securing Trade Union Rights in Enterprise Bankruptcy
General Confederation of Trade Unions Proposes Securing Trade Union Rights in Enterprise Bankruptcy
The General Confederation of Trade Unions’ (GCTU) proposals are reflected in the draft CIS model law “On Cross-Border Insolvency and Bankruptcy.”
Trade unions must have the right to represent and protect workers’ interests in the bankruptcy of international companies, according to Viktor Pinsky, Member of the State Duma of the Russian Federation and General Secretary of the GCTU.