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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A Unified Registry of Collective Agreements Should Be Established in the CIS
A unified registry of collective agreements in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) will enable the regulation of labor relations at a cross-border level, according to the General Confederation of Trade Unions. The proposal by GCTU to include the creation of such a registry in the draft Plan of Activities for the Year of Social Development and Quality of Life in the CIS was approved by participants of the working group of the Advisory Council on Labor, Employment, and Social Protection of the Population of the CIS Member States. The working group meeting took place today at the CIS Executive Committee in Minsk, using video conferencing.
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Nominal Wages in the CIS Show Steady Growth
Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan lead with the highest growth rates
Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have recorded the highest growth in nominal average wages in the CIS, with increases of 27.5% and 20.3%, respectively, compared to the first half of last year.
Experts from the GCTU analyzed wage data in the CIS, published in the latest report Socio-Economic Situation of the CIS Countries in the First Half of 2026 by the CIS Statistical Committee.
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Belarusian Trade, Consumer Cooperation and Entrepreneurship Workers' Union Turns 95
The Trade, Consumer Cooperation and Entrepreneurship Workers' Union of the Republic of Belarus celebrated its 95th anniversary on July 31. Today, the union unites over 143,000 industry workers across the country, with 1,681 primary trade union organizations. The union reliably protects the rights of industry workers in the Republic and actively operates on the international stage as part of the International Confederation of Trade Unions of Workers in Trade, Catering, Consumer Cooperation, and Various Forms of Entrepreneurship.