New step in the election campaign of Aliaxandr Lukashenka – another populist Decree signed.

24.08.2005.

On 23 August Aliaxandr Lukashenka signed a Decree that relaxed the contract-based employment system. The Decree additionally protects the rights to labor of the pregnant women, pre-retirement age people, and other categories of the population. Representatives of independent trade unions believe these changes are unimportant and insists the whole contract system be squashed, reports Radio Liberty.
According to the press service of Aliaxandr Lukashenka, the Decree aims to limit the subjectivism of the employers with respect to the conclusion and closure of contracts. Now the term of the contract should not be less than a year. The term of contract concluded with pregnant women and those on maternity leave should cover this period. With respect to 53 year old women and 58 year old men, the contracts offered should not last less than two years.
The Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions has been struggling against the contract-based employment system launched by Aliaxandr Lukashenka's Decree No.29. The Trade Unions even staged protests against the large-scale contract-based system. The BKDP leader Aliaxandr Yarashuk refers to this system as the most painful problem for the employed people, and the reason for unhappiness in the country. Though the new decree issued by Lukashenka relaxes the negative consequences of the contract-based system, it does not change the situation much, argues Mr. Yarashuk: "I can responsibly say: this is the same as refining serfdom or slavery. In essence, these steps do not cancel the enforced nature of the contract system that exists in the country now".
Mr. Yarashuk referred to Lukashenka's Decree as an attempt to manipulate the working people's awareness. He remains convinced that the contract system as is applied in Belarus should be cancelled.
The economist Iaraslau Ramanchuk believes that A.Lukashenka, understanding the people are not happy about the contracts, resorted to this step for political reasons: "This is undoubtedly a political step, this is already part of his election campaign. Just like the hyped increase in the pensions".
Iaraslau Ramanchuk is sure that the people who do not have their contracts renewed for their political activity or beliefs will not have an easier life.

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