BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

15/06/2007

EU will withdraw GSP trade preferences from Belarus over workers' rights violations

Brussels, 15 June 2007, 16.30

In December 2006 the EU warned that it would have to withdraw Belarus' trade preferences under the EU's Generalised System of Preferences if Belarus did not comply with its International Labour Organisation (ILO) obligations relating to freedom of association for workers. The ILO has today adopted its assessment that Belarus has not acted to ensure the protection of certain key labour rights related to freedom of association in Belarus. Belarus' GSP trade preferences will be therefore be withdrawn from 21 June 2007.

The European Commission expects Belarus to comply with its obligations as an International Labour Organisation member and respect the basic rights of trade unions. Trade unions must be able to function freely and without interference, as set out in ILO agreements to which Belarus is a signatory.

The Commission regrets that despite repeated calls Belarus has not taken any concrete measures to respect trade union rights. As soon as Belarus complies with its ILO obligations, the Commission will propose that its GSP preferences are reinstated.

The situation is now in the hands of the Belarusian authorities. The Commission urges the Belarusian authorities to act now to ensure the full respect of Belarusian workers' rights.

The European Commission has always insisted that respect for workers rights should be an integral part of the EU's trade policy objectives.

What impact with the withdrawal of GSP have?

The removal of these tariff preferences will not halt Belarus' exports to the EU. It will reinstate the standard tariffs applied to goods imported in the EU - which represents a difference of 3% as compared to GSP tariffs. The withdrawal will affect around 10% of Belarus exports.

Background:

The Commission decided, in 2003, to initiate an investigation into the situation in Belarus concerning freedom of association. The investigation found that there were serious and systematic violations of such core labour rights in that country.

The Commission decided in August 2005 to evaluate and monitor the situation for six months, giving Belarus further time in which to make the commitment to take the necessary measures to conform with the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, as expressed in the twelve recommendations in the report of July 2004 by the ILO Commission of Inquiry.

In December 2006 the Council agreed to a withdrawal of GSP privileges from Belarus with the condition that Belarus would have six further months to implement its ILO obligations.

The measures recently taken by Belarus have been deemed by the ILO to be "manifestly insufficient". Belarus has taken procedural measures which do not improve the situation of workers' rights in practice.

For more information: Christiane Hohmann +32 229 91196 or Stephen ADAMS +32 498963166,

Source:

http://www.delblr.ec.europa.eu/

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