Polotsk district executive committee on February 12 forbade the workers of the plant "Fiberglass" publicly express their opinion about the new requirements of the Decree number five. In writing to the deputy chairman of the executive committee said Peter Pyatkevich organizers of the picket. Refusal is justified by the fact that the applicants were not "signed contracts" with the police and the city hospital.

Workers consider absurd, that expression must pay for the work of policemen and doctors. "It's still an ambulance and the police come to call for free ..." - the workers say.

Picket (standing with placards) in protest against the decree №5 scheduled for February 21 in many cities of Belarus. The decision to hold mass protests took Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions. Polotsk application for permission to picket the local authorities was submitted on February 5 on behalf of citizens, workers "Fiberglass". The workers have a commitment to yourself to ensure order during the rally, and believe that there is no need in the conclusion of contracts with the city of paid services on the service station.

The illusory nature of our rights

The law does not include a requirement to pay for the work to the organizers of the picket services, which are financed from the state budget. By the way, the workers of the plant "Fiberglass" create profits, part of which goes to the state budget. As the deputy general director of "Fiberglass" in economics Elena Savitskaya, profits earned in the first three quarters of 2014 amounted to 34.4 billion rubles.

Deputy chairman of the executive committee, Peter Pitkevich justifies the requirement of contracts "... in accordance with the decision of the Polotsk City Executive Committee on March 15, 2013 № 167" On mass events "." In other words, the local committee has restricted its decision (worsened) the right of citizens to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

Assistant master of the plant "Fiberglass" Nikolai Sharah, deputy chairman of the Free Trade Union of Belarus: "We do not consider it necessary to additionally pay for the work of urban services, and their services at the picket we do not need. Restriction of the right of workers to express their views on innovation №5 decree is illegal, unjustified restriction of workers' rights. This decision makes the executive committee the right of workers to peaceful assembly illusory. "

Illegality of Decree №5

The picket was planned to collect signatures on a petition to the president to suspend the decree. Particular outrage factory workers has caused the rate of Decree №5, which will be applied to the heads of the workers a new measure of disciplinary punishment - deprivation of the premium for up to twelve months. The authorities have the illusion that this will increase employee morale.

When writing his decree rules are not discussed in representative government. Moreover, the decree has not been discussed in the Council on improvement of legislation in the social and labor sphere, which was created under the Ministry of Labour for just such discussions.

This council is comprised of representatives of trade unions, employers' associations and government agencies. The session shall be the Minister of Labour and Social Protection of Belarus Marianna Shchetkina. On January 23 the Council of Democratic Trade Unions consists of the chairman of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union Nikolai Zimin, deputy chairman Sergei BCDTU Antusevich and deputy chairman of the Belarusian Free Trade Union, an employee of the plant JSC "Polotsk-Fiberglass" Nicholas balls.

Alexander Morozov, Polotsk