Trade unions on the international platform exchanged experience of current work

On April 29, 2021, a regular meeting of the Council of the International Confederation of Oil, gas and Construction workers’Unions (MK NGSP) took place. As part of the agenda, the participants exchanged experience in the activities of MK NGSP member organizations in the current socio-economic conditions in the oil and gas industries of the CIS countries.

Aleksandr Korchagin, the President of the Confederation and the ROGWU President, briefed the meeting participants on the actions and decisions of the Trade Union bodies, trade union organizations, characterizing the experience of the Oil and Gas Construction Trade Union of Russia and its organizations in the current socio-economic situation. ‘The epidemic is not over yet, but we understand that it will not be the last, there will still be restrictions, and we, as trade union leaders, need to be ready for this, take into account all the details in our charters and regulatory documents, develop technologies and methods, which will allow you to remotely help people in solving their social and labour problems, pay more attention to labour protection issues, preserve people's health in case of viral danger’ – underlined he in conclusion.

Other leaders of oil, gas and construction workers’ unions of CIS countries also shared their experience of working in difficult economic conditions associated with both an epidemiological threat and the fall in prices for oil and refined products.

The discussion also touched upon the topic of sanctions. It was about the imposed sanctions against a number of large Belarusian state-owned enterprises of the petrochemical industry.

Members of the MK NGSP noted that labour collectives, workers and members of their families will be the first to suffer from the introduction of sanctions and the suspension of enterprises. At the same time, it was noted that, despite the closure of borders between countries, the suspension of production and a decrease in workers' incomes due to the spread of the COVID-19 virus infection, Belarus has not experienced a sharp economic recession, job cuts and the curtailment of social programs on the ground. The system of social partnership made it possible to preserve almost all additional benefits and guarantees provided for by collective agreements.

In view of this, the Council of MK NGSP decided to adopt a Statement in connection with the renewal of US economic sanctions against certain enterprises of the petrochemical industry of the Republic of Belarus.

At the end of the meeting, bilateral agreements were signed between the ROGWU and Kazakhneftegazprofsoyuz, as well as the ROGWU and the BELENERGOTOPGAZ Trade Union.

The day before the MK NGSP meeting, a working meeting between Aleksandr Korchagin and the Chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus Mikhail Orda took place. The range of issues discussed related to both the positive experience of interaction between the ROGWU, MK NGSP with the trade unions of the Republic of Belarus in conditions of epidemiological danger, and Western sanctions and ways to minimize their negative consequences for workers.

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International Confederation of Oil, gas and Construction workers’ Unions (MK NGSP) unites more than 1 million 700 thousand workers in the oil and gas and chemical industries - members of related trade unions operating in the following CIS countries: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Russia, Uzbekistan, Ukraine.