TRADE UNIONS FROM MORE THAN A DOZEN COUNTRIES UNITE TO OPPOSE THE COLLECTIVE WEST
The national trade union centers of Belarus, Egypt, and Syria, as well as the International Confederation of Trade Unions of Arab Countries, which unites 18 countries, following negotiations at the headquarters of the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus (FTUB), have made a principled decision to unite efforts and work together on the international arena.
During the negotiations, all participants clearly stated their common position: today, the international trade union movement is extremely politicized. As a result, under the pressure of Western countries and the USA, instead of trade union solidarity, support, and problem-solving for workers, barriers and restrictions are being introduced, and decisions are being made that directly harm people. Therefore, as emphasized by the Chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus, Mikhail Orda, those trade unions that act in the interests of people must unite and create centers of power to counter such unfair and illegal actions. This concerns the formation of a common agenda for joint work on international platforms.
– We will defend the interests of our people, nations, and states. We will promote the development and expansion of contacts between our enterprises and organizations, which can exchange both their experience and technologies, to become less dependent on unfriendly countries, – clarified the leader of the national trade union center of Belarus.
Mikhail Orda also added that the parties intend, among other things, to continue cooperation in humanitarian and cultural spheres, as this creates a solid foundation for cooperation between states.
In turn, the Chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions of Egypt called the meeting at the FTUB headquarters historic.
– We discussed the consolidation of efforts and concrete actions to counter Western attacks, – emphasized Mohamed Abdel Aziz Gebril Abdelhalim.
The trade union leader of Egypt noted the high economic development of Belarus and the successes achieved by our state despite foreign policy obstacles. He particularly emphasized the high level of socio-economic protection of workers.
For his part, the Secretary General of the International Confederation of Trade Unions of Arab Countries, Jamil Qadri, recalled that Syria is also currently under sanctions. He emphasized that during his visit to Belarus, he saw firsthand the situation developing in the country.
– It is obvious that fake news that does not correspond to reality is spreading about Belarus in the world. I can confirm that the collective West is trying to impose its desires to achieve its own interests. It is not interested in people's destinies, – noted Jamil Qadri.
During their visit, representatives of the trade union movement of Arab states visited a number of enterprises and organizations in healthcare, education, energy, and the petrochemical industry, and highly praised the unique experience of social partnership in our country.
During negotiations at the FBP headquarters, agreements were also reached aimed at developing integration between enterprises. For this purpose, in particular, it is planned to hold a joint forum in Belarus with the participation of trade unions affiliated with the International Confederation of Arab Trade Unions and the General Confederation of Trade Unions, which unites workers of the CIS countries.
It should be noted that Belarusian trade unions have been actively cooperating with their counterparts from Arab states for several years. For example, over a dozen cooperation agreements have been signed with the trade unions of Egypt alone in various fields – from education, healthcare, and culture to the industrial, petrochemical, and agricultural sectors of the two countries.
Each of these documents provides for specific areas of cooperation. For example, in the real economy sector, colleagues from the two countries not only exchange experience in protecting workers' interests but also aim to promote the latest technologies and production cooperation. In education, it concerns facilitating mutual student exchanges and joint training programs. National trade union centers also cooperate within the framework of promoting cultural and humanitarian initiatives.