President Lukashenko Signs Key Worker Protection Decree
Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko officially approved Decree No. 45, titled 'On ensuring the payment of wages and remuneration,' on February 12, 2026. The new legislation is designed to significantly strengthen worker protection against payment defaults, particularly concerning remuneration under civil law contracts.
The decree introduces several key provisions aimed at ensuring timely and complete payments to workers across the country. This move follows recent discussions between President Lukashenko and the Council of Ministers, where the draft decree was deliberated and endorsed.
Enhanced Powers for State Labor Inspectorate
Under the newly signed decree, the State Labor Inspectorate will receive expanded authority. It will now have the right to issue binding directives to address violations of legislation when instances of non-payment or incomplete payment are identified. This applies not only to traditional wages but also to remuneration due under civil law contracts.
A critical aspect of the decree is the introduction of an extrajudicial procedure for payment recovery. Should business entities fail to comply with the directives issued by the State Labor Inspectorate, the outstanding payments will be recovered without the need for court proceedings. The Inspectorate will petition compulsory enforcement authorities to initiate enforcement proceedings in the interest of the affected citizen.
Increased Penalties for Wage Arrears
To further enhance the social protection of workers, Decree No. 45 significantly increases the amount of extraordinary payments withheld from employers to cover wage arrears. This amount will rise from 1.5 to 3 times the subsistence minimum budget.
The initiative to extend the pre-trial debt recovery procedure, which was previously applicable to wage arrears, to remuneration under civil law contracts was a central point of discussion during the presidential meeting. Minister of Labor and Social Protection, Andrei Lobovich, highlighted the increasing prevalence of civil law contracts, noting that approximately 650,000 people worked under such arrangements last year. This underscores the importance of the new decree in providing more robust protection for a growing segment of the workforce. Previously, workers under civil law contracts faced uncertain protection in cases of non-payment by contractors.
Broader Context of Worker Rights
This decree is part of a broader government reform program in Belarus focused on safeguarding workers' rights. The measures are intended to reduce instances of non-payment and ensure that all individuals receive due compensation for their labor. The new regulations aim to provide mandatory payment guarantees and simplified procedures for appealing in cases of payment delays.
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