Information on Safe Migration
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revealing her personal potential, professionally
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revealing her personal potential, professionally
assisting in the realization of civil and social rights
Voices of the victims: the story of a Belarusian who spent almost six months in labor slavery
Stories of labor slavery are not uncommon: in conditions of unstable economic situation in the world, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find work, and for those who want to get a job abroad, Russia remains the most accessible and popular destination for Belarusians. It was in Russia that the hero of our story became a victim of labor slavery.
Gennady, a construction worker by trade, was recruited right on the street. By unfortunate coincidence, this happened at the very moment when he was in dire need of work. The recruiter offered the man a job in Russia, free meals, accommodation and travel expenses to the place of work. Gennady's day of work was supposed to cost 2,200 Russian rubles (~76 Belarusian rubles), and the recruiter also promised an advance in the middle of the month and regular salary at the end of the month.
The man agreed and met with the transporter. In a small eight-seater minibus, 16 people were transported: sitting, standing and even in the luggage compartment. Upon arrival, the men were accommodated in a hostel with bunk beds and given bed linen.
As often happens in such stories, reality was far from the promises. The man was engaged in exhausting labor for 12 hours a day without days off. Once a week he was given 2,000 Russian rubles (~69 Belarusian rubles) for food and other expenses. This money was катастрофически not enough. Gennady could not even send his bed linen to the laundry in the hostel because it cost 300 rubles (~10 Belarusian rubles), and this amount was not enough even for sustenance. The man was constantly engaged in physical work, and since he had to stretch the money and buy the cheapest food, Gennady lived in poverty.
He had to work a lot in very rainy weather, so much so that his clothes did not have time to dry. Gennady fell ill and could not get up for 3 days, nor could he seek medical help because the promised advance and salary were still not paid.
After 2.5 months of hard work, the man demanded that the employers stop making excuses and pay the salary, which, according to the man's calculations, amounted to 165,000 Russian rubles (~5,740 Belarusian rubles). He was told that the man should demand payment from the transporter. As a result, Gennady, who had lost a lot of weight and had poor health, and two other men from his team decided to return to Belarus.
At the place of transportation, he was paid 2,100 Belarusian rubles, and the rest of the amount was promised to be given later due to "temporary difficulties". In return, they offered to work for another 2.5 months and then receive both the debt and the new salary. The man refused and decided to try to find a job in Belarus. Unfortunately, he failed, and out of desperation, Gennady went to Russia again to his previous place of work. Thus, the man worked for another 2.5 months, while the working conditions did not change. The new salary, as well as the debt, was never paid to Gennady. In total, the man spent 5 months in labor slavery.
Often, victims do not even realize that everything that happened to them is slavery. If you or your acquaintances find yourselves in a similar situation, do not be afraid to seek help. Contact the hotline for safe entry, exit, and employment abroad at the numbers:
8-801-201-5555, for calls in the territory of the Republic of Belarus, from landline phones of mobile operators A1, MTC, life:) the call is free
+375162218888, for calls from abroad and in the territory of the Republic of Belarus - payment according to long-distance tariffs
113, free code-free calls from landline phones in the territory of the Republic of Belarus
If necessary, our employees will give you the numbers of other organizations that can help.
Also send questions to the email address: bpwbrest@mail.ru.
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