What problems do Belarusians most often face when going abroad for employment?

In many cases, problems arise due to ignorance of the rules of safe departure.

For example, many job offers abroad are contained on the Internet, which are posted by private individuals. For example, on a mobile phone, managers offer work abroad, most often in the Russian Federation, and then report the date and place of an organized departure from the republic. At the same time, no one meets with the employees in person before leaving. In such cases, the carriers of the "labor force" are hired persons who do not have information about the job offered to them, but only deliver people to the declared destination. Accordingly, when traveling outside the Republic of Belarus, citizens do not have any documents confirming the fact of employment, therefore, upon arrival, they live or work abroad, as a rule, illegally. And as a result, it is extremely difficult to defend your rights to wages and working conditions under such an oral "telephone" agreement.

If you still have an offer of employment abroad from an organization, then in order to protect yourself, ask its employees to show you a license to work abroad. The list of firms that have such a license is posted on the website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus mvd.gov.by, or you can find out about such firms in the Department of Citizenship and Migration of the region where the company is registered.

Monitoring of ads on the Internet, including in social networks, shows that there are indeed many offers that are fraught with real danger.

Also, a real threat to a safe stay abroad is ignorance of the laws of the countries where Belarusians go, in particular, the local system of protection of labor and other rights. Therefore, the safest way is to leave with the assistance of firms licensed to carry out activities related to employment outside the Republic of Belarus. Since the presence of a license imposes a number of obligations on these companies. For example, before going abroad, an employment or civil law contract must be signed with the employee in our country, which is registered with the Department of Citizenship and Migration, and one copy is provided to the employee. Only after that can a citizen go to work.

To ensure the protection by the Republic of Belarus of the rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of citizens who independently travel outside the republic for employment, we strongly recommend:

- notify the citizenship and migration department at the place of residence or place of stay about the date, purpose of departure from the Republic of Belarus, as well as inform about the foreign employer, working and living conditions, including the procedure for remuneration and social security;

- in case of conclusion of an employment contract in the Republic of Belarus before leaving for the state of employment – submit a copy of the employment contract concluded with a foreign employer to the citizenship and migration department;

- to receive free information from the citizenship and migration department about the provisions of the legislation of the Republic of Belarus on external labor migration, the procedure for leaving the Republic of Belarus and entering the Republic of Belarus;

- from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus (tel. +375-173-79-26-73, 379-47-71) – to obtain information on the location and telephone numbers of diplomatic missions or consular offices of the Republic of Belarus in the state of employment (if any), on international organizations protecting the rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of emigrant workers;

- at the diplomatic missions of the country of employment, clarify the conditions of entry and requirements for employment;

- inform your loved ones about your departure.

For additional information, you can also contact the Department of Citizenship and Migration of the Department of Internal Affairs of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee at the address: Vitebsk, Frunze Ave., 41-A (reception of citizens is carried out on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 08.00 to 13.00) or by phone 8-0212-60-34-90.

We remind you of the hotline numbers of the Department of Citizenship and Migration: +375 (017) 218-52-52, +375 (44) 518-52-52 (A1),

+375(25)518-52-52 (Life), +375(33)370-52-52 (MTC).

Being abroad, as well as at home, you should never forget about reasonable caution and prudence. It should be remembered that some actions are easier to prevent than to restore the legality of violated rights and interests.

Head of OGIM

of the Polotsk District Department of Internal Affairs I.A. Moskalenko