The Belarusian authorities made a step forward to independent trade unions and decided to restore the beneficial coefficient of office rental fees, applied for all organization of workers irrespective of their membership. During six months the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BCDTU) has been struggling against discriminatory conditions, when in April 2008 the Government of Belarus have cancelled application of beneficial coefficient and office rental fees for trade unions immediately jumped up 10 times.

Independent trade union center tried to protect rights of its member organizations because for many of them the new rates became unaffordable, approached all possible instances, including Constitutional Court, Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, National Commission on putting order in using administrative buildings. As well, this issue was repeatedly raised in the course of sessions of the Council on Labor and Social Issues and BCDTU has been referring to the fact that “the Government of Belarus offered benefits to certain trade unions on legislative level, in particular FPB (Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus uses office space free of charge), thus violating rights of its citizens, united into other trade unions”.

Vladimir Potupchik, the Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Belarus voiced the decision of the Government to restore application of beneficial coefficient to trade unions that are not members of FPB at the 303 Session of the International Labor Organization (ILO) Governing Body. He stated that the Government adopted such a decision and this would be announced in the nearest future. Igor Starovoitov, representative of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection has informed Alexander Yaroshuk, Chairperson of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions about it as early as 17 November 2008.

The other day this information was confirmed by decision of the National Commission on putting order in using administrative buildings, structures, production facilities and other state property. On 18 November 2008 it was decided to restore application of beneficial coefficient to calculate office rental fees to any trade unions.

So, Article 1.6.1 of the minutes № 48, dated 18 November 2008 says: To establish, from 17 November 2008 a beneficial coefficient 0.1 applied in determining amounts of rental fees for offices occupied by any trade union organizations, registered in the Republic of Belarus according to the established procedure.

This beneficial coefficient shall be applied to premises, used for holding meetings of members of trade union organizations, offices of management, libraries, clubs and chat rooms, circles, amateur folk collectives, which are not involved into entrepreneurial activity, rendering free of charge educational, social, cultural and legal services to members of trade unions and other citizens.