The regional competition during the spring field work will become another incentive for farmers to carry out the sowing campaign promptly, harmoniously, with high quality, and safely

According to Tatyana Dikanova, Chairperson of the Vitebsk Regional Trade Union Organization of the Belarusian Trade Union of Agricultural Workers, this year the winners will be determined in six nominations according to the competition terms. Agrarians have an excellent opportunity to distinguish themselves in pre-sowing soil preparation, sowing of spring cereals, legumes and rapeseed, as well as technical crops and corn, top dressing of winter crops and fodder lands, and chemical weeding of agricultural crops.

The best workers in each category will be awarded with diplomas and a monetary prize of up to seven base units. Those who have achieved high results during the sowing campaign and have strictly adhered to production, technological, and executive discipline can claim victory.

Last year, the region's trade union organizations awarded 355 people for the spring sowing campaign and its results. The total prize amount was about 20 thousand rubles.

– The success of the sowing campaign depends not only on the provision of agricultural organizations with seeds, personnel, equipment, and fuel. The course of work is also influenced by how safe and comfortable working conditions are created for agrarians. Trade unions play a significant role in this, – notes Tatyana Dikanova. – Our focus is on providing workers with workwear, personal protective equipment, and hot meals, creating proper sanitary and domestic conditions in the fields and at machine yards, timely conducting briefings, pre- and post-trip medical examinations, and carrying out public control.

Monitoring work was initiated by representatives of the agricultural trade union long before the first equipment entered the fields. On-site, together with specialists from the agricultural and food departments of district executive committees and social partners – employers – seminars and working meetings were held in labor collectives on issues related to the qualitative and timely completion of field work. Trade unions have also taken control of labor remuneration to further motivate those on whom the country's food security directly depends.

As of today, trade union representatives have inspected the sites where catering for agricultural workers will be organized. More than 100 agricultural organizations in the region will provide meals for workers through their own canteens.

Many farms are fully undertaking the costs of organizing two hot meals a day for agricultural workers.

During the monitoring, trade unions pay attention to the availability of first-aid kits and fire extinguishers for machine operators. Given that agriculture has always been one of the most hazardous industries, people's lives and health must be the priority during work. Public, so-called "people's inspectors" of agricultural organizations play a significant role in overseeing compliance with labor protection legislation. They will assist trade union leaders on the ground and management, but agricultural workers themselves must also remember basic safety precautions during the sowing campaign.

"VITEBSKIE VESTI"