UN Expert Denounces Forced Labour and Political Repression of Workers in Belarus

The UN expert called on the international community to prioritise labour rights as part of its engagement with Belarus, linking them to broader human rights and democratic reforms.

Belarus’ long-standing image as a state committed to social welfare and labour protection has come under severe scrutiny from the United Nations. In a report presented to the UN General Assembly, Nils Muižnieks, the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Belarus, exposed widespread and systematic abuses against workers, including politically motivated discrimination, forced labour, and the dismantling of trade union freedoms.

A False Image of a “Worker’s Paradise”

“Belarus is not the worker’s paradise authorities say it is, despite their proclaimed commitment to economic and social rights,” Muižnieks declared. His findings contradict the government’s narrative of robust state protection for labour rights, revealing instead a grim reality of state control, repression, and punishment of dissent within the workforce.

According to the report, political discrimination and intimidation have become routine in both public and private workplaces. Employment opportunities are often conditioned on loyalty to the government, and workers who express opposition views, join independent trade unions, or participate in peaceful protests face dismissal, harassment, or criminal prosecution.

Forced Labour and Punitive Work Conditions

Muižnieks described the widespread use of forced labour in penal institutions as one of the most alarming trends. Many detainees — including those imprisoned for political reasons — are reportedly compelled to perform physically demanding and hazardous labour for little or no compensation.

“These practices amount to a form of punishment for persons unjustly incarcerated,” the Special Rapporteur stated. He said such conditions violate international human rights and labour standards, including the International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions to which Belarus is a party.

Reports indicate that prisoners, including political detainees, are assigned to industrial or agricultural work under unsafe conditions and face abuse if they fail to meet quotas. Access to medical care and adequate food remains limited. Muižnieks also linked these abuses to a broader campaign of repression intended to instil fear and suppress organised dissent.

Destruction of Independent Trade Unions

The report provides a detailed account of the systematic dismantling of trade union rights in Belarus. Independent unions have been targeted through raids, arrests of leaders, asset seizures, and deregistration by authorities.

Since 2022, Belarus has faced heightened scrutiny by the International Labour Organization, which invoked Article 33 of its Constitution—a rare and serious procedure used when a member state flagrantly violates workers’ rights. This measure followed the government’s failure to comply with repeated ILO recommendations to restore trade union freedoms.

Under the guise of “national security,” the Belarusian authorities have replaced independent unions with state-controlled structures loyal to the ruling regime, effectively eliminating any platform for collective bargaining or protection of workers’ interests.

Political Persecution and Arbitrary Detention

Muižnieks also warned that repression extends beyond the workplace, with the broader human rights situation in Belarus remaining dire. Despite recent government claims of reform, over 1,100 people remain arbitrarily detained, including trade union activists, journalists, and civil society members.

He cautioned that the recent releases of some political prisoners do not signal genuine progress, noting that several of those freed have since been deported, stripped of citizenship, or had their passports confiscated, leaving them at risk of statelessness.

“The authorities use the legal system as a tool of intimidation. Those who are released are often exiled, silenced, and fearful of returning home,” Muižnieks said.

International Concern and Call for Accountability

The Special Rapporteur’s report comes amid continued international concern about Belarus’s human rights record since the disputed 2020 presidential election, which triggered mass protests and a brutal crackdown.

Muižnieks urged UN Member States to maintain pressure on Belarusian authorities to uphold their obligations under international law and to avoid being deceived by cosmetic gestures of compliance. He called for the release of all political prisoners, the reinstatement of independent trade unions, and full cooperation with international monitoring mechanisms.

He further encouraged governments and global labour bodies to support Belarusian workers in exile, many of whom have fled persecution but continue to advocate for human and labour rights from abroad.

A Shrinking Space for Workers’ Rights

Belarus’s human rights crisis represents one of the most acute examples of state-controlled labour systems in modern Europe. The government’s model—rooted in Soviet-style management and authoritarian control—has left little room for civil society participation or workers’ autonomy.

International human rights groups have corroborated the UN’s findings, documenting cases of surveillance, arbitrary firings, and coerced participation in pro-government rallies. Independent media outlets reporting on labour abuses have been shut down or blocked.

As global attention remains focused on conflicts elsewhere, Muižnieks warned against ignoring the plight of Belarusian workers, many of whom continue to resist quietly under repression. “The courage of workers and trade unionists who persist in demanding their rights under such conditions must be recognised and supported,” he said.

Path Forward: Restoring Rights and Dignity

The UN expert called on the international community to prioritise labour rights as part of its engagement with Belarus, linking them to broader human rights and democratic reforms. He stressed that accountability for abuses, including forced labour and political discrimination, must be central to any dialogue with the authorities in Minsk.

“True development cannot exist without respect for human dignity and workers’ rights,” Muižnieks concluded. “The Belarusian people deserve not fear and punishment, but freedom, fairness, and justice in the workplace.”