Follow-up to the Conference resolution on the subject of Belarus and conclusions of the Committee on the Application of Standards

TO ALL MEMBER STATES OF THE ILO 11 July 2025

Dear Minister,

I am writing to inform you that at its 353rd Session (March 2025), the Governing Body discussed the follow-up to the resolution concerning the measures recommended by the Governing Body under article 33 of the ILO Constitution on the subject of Belarus.

I wish to bring to your kind attention subparagraph (g) of its decision, by which the Governing Body “invited the Organization's constituents – governments, employers and workers – to continue to take steps to ensure an effective follow-up to the Conference resolution concerning the measures recommended by the Governing Body under article 33 of the ILO Constitution on the subject of Belarus, including by holding national high-level tripartite meetings to assess and intensify efforts and to report back thereon to the Director-General for transmission to the Governing Body”.

The Governing Body has requested me to prepare an updated report for its 355th Session (November 2025) (see subparagraph (h)). To enable me to prepare a report for the consideration of the Governing Body, I would appreciate receiving information on any action taken or envisaged by your Government by no later than 16 September 2025.

I wish to further draw your attention to the conclusions of the Committee on the Application of Standards of the International Labour Conference, which, further to the abovementioned resolution, held a special sitting on the application by Belarus of the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87), and the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98). In particular. the Committee noted actions taken by the ILO constituents in response to the ILC 2023 resolution on Belarus to review their relations with the Government and take appropriate measures to ensure that the Government cannot take advantage of such relations to perpetuate or extend the violations of workers’ rights in respect of freedom of association and collective bargaining referred to by the Commission of Inquiry. The Committee called on ILO constituents to continue to do so. It also urged governments to respect the principle of non-refoulement to ensure that trade unionists forced into exile in their countries are not returned to Belarus where they may be subject to persecution, arbitrary arrest and torture; to assist Belarusian citizens residing in their countries who may not have valid travel documents due to their inability to receive consular services; and to facilitate the issuance of tourist visas to Belarusian citizens persecuted for their trade union activities and their relatives, as appropriate.

2. May I also request that you bring the above information and recommendations to the attention of the employers’ and workers’ organizations of your country so that they may take the relevant measures and inform me either directly or through you.

Thank you in advance for your urgent attention to the contents of this letter.

Yours sincerely,

Gilbert F. Houngbo Director-General

TO ALL MEMBER STATES OF THE ILO 11 July 2025

Dear Minister,

I am writing to inform you that at its 353rd Session (March 2025), the Governing Body discussed the follow-up to the resolution concerning the measures recommended by the Governing Body under article 33 of the ILO Constitution on the subject of Belarus.

I wish to bring to your kind attention subparagraph (g) of its decision, by which the Governing Body “invited the Organization's constituents – governments, employers and workers – to continue to take steps to ensure an effective follow-up to the Conference resolution concerning the measures recommended by the Governing Body under article 33 of the ILO Constitution on the subject of Belarus, including by holding national high-level tripartite meetings to assess and intensify efforts and to report back thereon to the Director-General for transmission to the Governing Body”.

The Governing Body has requested me to prepare an updated report for its 355th Session (November 2025) (see subparagraph (h)). To enable me to prepare a report for the consideration of the Governing Body, I would appreciate receiving information on any action taken or envisaged by your Government by no later than 16 September 2025.

I wish to further draw your attention to the conclusions of the Committee on the Application of Standards of the International Labour Conference, which, further to the abovementioned resolution, held a special sitting on the application by Belarus of the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87), and the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98). In particular. the Committee noted actions taken by the ILO constituents in response to the ILC 2023 resolution on Belarus to review their relations with the Government and take appropriate measures to ensure that the Government cannot take advantage of such relations to perpetuate or extend the violations of workers’ rights in respect of freedom of association and collective bargaining referred to by the Commission of Inquiry. The Committee called on ILO constituents to continue to do so. It also urged governments to respect the principle of non-refoulement to ensure that trade unionists forced into exile in their countries are not returned to Belarus where they may be subject to persecution, arbitrary arrest and torture; to assist Belarusian citizens residing in their countries who may not have valid travel documents due to their inability to receive consular services; and to facilitate the issuance of tourist visas to Belarusian citizens persecuted for their trade union activities and their relatives, as appropriate.

2. May I also request that you bring the above information and recommendations to the attention of the employers’ and workers’ organizations of your country so that they may take the relevant measures and inform me either directly or through you.

Thank you in advance for your urgent attention to the contents of this letter.

Yours sincerely,

Gilbert F. Houngbo Director-General