On May 21, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko signed Decree No. 202 "On Enhancing the Role of Employers in Foreign Labour Migration," which introduces employer liability for foreign workers. This was reported to BELTA by the press service of the Head of State.
To strengthen the requirements for attracting foreign labour, with the exception of citizens of EAEU member states, employers have been assigned additional responsibilities. These include visiting migrants at their homes to study living conditions, taking measures to eliminate identified violations if necessary, and informing competent state bodies, as well as organising mandatory testing of migrants for knowledge of the Russian or Belarusian language.
It will be necessary to conclude an employment contract with a migrant within 30 days from the date of their entry into Belarus. At the same time, the temporary transfer of such an employee to another employer is prohibited to prevent the use of their labour without following the established procedure for attracting foreign specialists.
Employers will also be obliged to organise control over the activities and stay conditions of migrants, including appointing individuals responsible for such control.
Failure to fulfil their duties will entail administrative responsibility for employers, and for migrants – early termination of the employment contract and departure from the country.