At a press-conference, dedicated to the Baltic Region Trade Union Network session, taking place in Minsk, the Chairperson of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions Alexander Yaroshuk noted that the Congress is interested in continuation of activities of the “Trade Union Movement in Belarus” website.

It is worth reminding that the “Trade Union Movement in Belarus” website has not been updated from January till April 2009. The website problems started when two representatives of the international trade union confederations tried exerting pressure on editorial staff of the resource and make them remove the material they were not happy with from the news block.

However, suspending of activity of the “Trade Union Movement in Belarus” website did not leave leaders and activists of the Belarusian independent trade unions indifferent, and they consider the website www.praca-by.info activities very efficient and needed.

So, the two most representative trade union organizations in Belarus – the Belarusian Independent Trade Union (BITU) and the Belarusian Radio and Electronic Workers Union (REWU) approached the International Labor Organization (ILO) requesting to support activity of the “Trade Union Movement in Belarus”.

Earlier the BCDTU leader Alexander Yaroshuk as well, spoke about the necessity to renew activities of the website www.praca-by.info, noting that “sources of information about trade union life are needed”.

And, judging by the statement, made by the BCDTU Chairperson at the press-conference, it is likely that the Congress as well, would join the request of the Belarusian trade unions to the ILO.

When asked: “Would you support request of the BITU and REWU to the International Labor Organization to support activities of the “Trade Union Movement in Belarus” website?” Alexander Yaroshuk responded:

- We support and welcome activities of any mass media, which write on trade union issues.

Alexander Yaroshuk noted that according to his information “The ILO suspended funding because at present this international organization, as well, is experiencing shortage of financial resources because of economic crisis”.

However, according to the BCDTU leader “in case resources would be made available, then certainly, we may only welcome further financing and support of the website activities”.

- We are interested to have the website activities continued - underlined Alexander Yaroshuk.

It is worth reminding that in April 2009 the “Trade Union Movement in Belarus” website renewed its activities.