Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Today’s ‘holiday’ came to us from Soviet times, when labor was called an honor and the worker a hero – but only in words. In reality, workers were nothing more than cogs in a vast system where human life had no value. Unfortunately, this same attitude has been adopted by the current regime. In its view, a person is not an individual but a resource it can exploit for its gain.
That’s why 12-hour shifts – leaving no strength or time for family – have become the norm. Wages that barely cover food and utility bills are now commonplace. Promised days off for healthcare workers are canceled due to staff shortages, and long-serving employees are fired just for a photo at a protest rally.
And all this happens amid loud speeches about ‘stability’ and ‘development’. But prices keep rising, working conditions don’t improve, and factories are falling into ruin – with no investment or strategy.
Yet you keep going. You work, feed your families, and support one another. You deserve better: recognition, fair pay, and humane working conditions. You have the right to demand respect and dignified treatment. You have the right to plan your life without fear – fear for your job, your children’s future, or your own health.
People’s wellbeing and support for them are what the state’s focus should be. Because people are not spare parts. People are our highest value. And this day is not a celebration of hollow slogans but a tribute to everyone whose work builds a better Belarus”.
