Lukashenko advised Poland and Lithuania against 'overreacting' about migrant workers in Belarus
When approving today the appointment of Sergei Levkovich as First Deputy Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko has advised Poland and Lithuania to take a more measured approach and not get overly agitated regarding matters of migrant workers in Belarus
The President specifically stated that all discussions about labour resources of some kind must cease, and existing domestic resources must be put into work.
“Make them work. There’s a shortage of labour resources, so people come [to Belarus] not just from the southern regions of the former Soviet Union, but from Russia as well. They also come to us from Lithuania, Latvia and even Poland, though not many, but they are willing to work here. Personally check each family, each individual. If you’re satisfied with them, then hire. If you don't want outsiders, work yourselves. We're not insisting people come from other republics. But we can't manage without this in the Vitebsk Region. That's why labour migration is normal. The Poles are even egging on our fugitives there. What they worry about most is Pakistanis coming here, because they fear that these migrants might move onward there. Let Poles and Lithuanians calm: no Afghans, Turkmen, Uzbeks or Tajiks will leave us. Those we accept will live and work here with us. So they shouldn't overreact and provoke our people to make noise,” the President added.
