Belaruskali

Belaruskali ( be, Беларуськалі, russian: Беларуськалий) is one of the largest state-owned companies of Belarus. It is one of the largest producers of potash fertilizers in the world, accounting for 20% global supply as of 2019.Мировые производители калия могут выиграть от снижения экспорта из Беларуси
orld potash producers may benefit from decreasing exports from Belarus- Fitch Ratings, 26 August 2020

Belaruskali is the largest single taxpayer in Belarus and an important source of foreign currency of the Belarusian government. As of 2015, it accounted for 11% of tax revenues of Minsk Region.

Most of Belaruskali's production is exported to China.About company
- Official website of Belaruskali

History

The company was established in 1958 and comprises four production units, as well as auxiliary shops and service departments. The Belarusian Potash Company is the main distributor of potash fertilizers produced by Belaruskali.

Worker rights issues and political repressions

In 2020, four thousand workers of Belaruskali have declared a strike as part of mass peaceful nationwide protests that followed a controversial presidential election, demanding resignation of Alexander Lukashenko and new democratic elections. There have been cases of miners cuffing themselves underground as part of the strike.

According to reports, Belaruskali management threatened and put psychological pressure on the strikers. Belaruskali paid extra bonuses to workers not participating in the strike.

The Belarusian authorities arrested and imposed 15-day prison sentences on some of the striking workers at Belaruskali. Four activists of the Belaruskali labour union - Siarhei Charkasau, Pavel Puchenia, Yury Korzun and Anatol Bokun - were arrested after the strike began. 49 Belaruskali workers were fired for participating in the strike, several had to flee from the country."Беларуськалий" уволил почти 50 сотрудников за участие в стачках
elaruskali fired almost 50 employees for participating in strikes- Deutsche Welle, 20 November 2020

The arrested activists were later released following an international solidarity campaign, fired workers were reinstated following inquiries from Yara International, the largest trader of Belaruskali's products, regarding worker rights violations at Belaruskali.How the Strike at Belaruskali Changed the Situation at the Enterprise
- Charter'97, 28 December 2020

International sanctions

In 2020, Belaruskali became one of the centers of strikes after the presidential election and violence against protesters. On November 19, Belaruskali fired 49 striking workers, purportedly for absenteeism.

On 24 June 2021, the European Union has introduced restrictions on potash trade with Belarus as a reaction to "the escalation of serious human rights violations in Belarus and the violent repression of civil society, democratic opposition and journalists, as well as to the forced landing of a Ryanair flight in Minsk on 23 May 2021 and the related detention of journalist Raman Pratasevich and Sofia Sapega."

On 9 August 2021, the United States have added Belaruskali to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List, while United Kingdom and Canada have imposed restrictions on potash trade with Belarus. In a statement by the U.S. Treasury, Belaruskali is described as "a major source of tax revenue and foreign currency for the Lukashenka regime".

On 2 December 2021, Belaruskali was added to the sanctions list of the United Kingdom, while the Belarusian Potash Company was added to the SDN List by the United States Department of the Treasury.

External links

Official website

References

{{Portal, Companies

Chemical companies of Belarus
Chemical companies of the Soviet Union
Companies of Belarus
Belarusian brands
Belarusian entities subject to the U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctions