The regional prosecutor's office analyzed the state of supervision over the enforcement of labor legislation based on the results of work for 2017.

In 2017, the region's prosecutor's offices conducted 77 (119 in 2016) inspections of compliance with labor and occupational safety legislation at enterprises, institutions, and organizations. As a result, 111 (198) submissions were made to the heads of management bodies, organizations, and enterprises, 83 (343) orders were issued, and 16 (130) official warnings were given. Based on the review of prosecutorial oversight acts, 583 (605) officials were brought to disciplinary liability, and 155 (458) to administrative liability. Prosecutorial response measures resulted in the recovery of damages from individuals and legal entities totaling 1,032,624 (3,356,993) rubles. No criminal cases were initiated based on the inspection results.

An analysis of the socio-economic situation in the Vitebsk region indicates the relevance of timely wage payments by organizations and enterprises. Based on the results of 2017, wages were partially unpaid in 30 organizations, totaling 980.9 thousand rubles, including 28 agricultural organizations for a total of 954.1 thousand rubles and 2 construction organizations for 26.8 thousand rubles (as of 01.01.2017, this was in 58 organizations).

As of 01.02.2018, wage arrears were recorded in 20 organizations in the Vitebsk region, totaling 605 thousand rubles, including 19 agricultural organizations for 603.1 thousand rubles and 1 construction organization for 1.9 thousand rubles.

The largest number of debtor organizations were registered in the Liozno (5), Miory (8), Chashniki (4), Shumilino (6) districts, and others.

An analysis of the conducted reception sessions showed that the range of issues raised by citizens seeking appointments concerns labor relations: timeliness of wage payments, conclusion and termination of contracts, procedures for bringing to disciplinary responsibility, and granting of leave. The proportion of issues related to labor relations from the total number of applicants is over 70%.

Considering the relevance and social significance, prosecutorial oversight in this area should

to be effective and contribute to the actual elimination of legislative violations.

The results of prosecutorial inspections indicate the improper exercise of managerial functions in the specified area by local authorities. The specified authorities lack proper coordination of work on the recovery of overdue accounts receivable through claim and court proceedings in favor of agricultural organizations that have wage arrears. Where grounds exist, set-offs of intra-district debt are not carried out. In fact, the work of the specified authorities is reduced to monitoring the developing situation in order to form a list of debtor enterprises.

During inspections, prosecutors often identify violations of the procedure for settlements with employees upon dismissal, payment of average wages during annual leave, as a result of which appropriate orders are issued for the immediate adoption of measures to pay the employee the amounts due, and officials of organizations are brought to disciplinary and administrative responsibility.

According to statistical data, in 2017, the number of citizens' appeals received by the prosecutor's offices of the Vitebsk region and, accordingly, resolved regarding violations of labor legislation, including issues of untimely payment of wages, decreased (147 appeals were received (2016 – 190), of which 54 were satisfied (53)).

In organizations of the Vitebsk region in 2017, 16 people died as a result of industrial accidents (19 in 2016) and 71 people received severe industrial injuries (98 in 2016).

Over the past year, no cases of death or severe injury of people in the workplace have been registered in organizations in the Gluboksky, Rossony and Ushachi districts.

While the overall number of fatal industrial accidents has decreased, an increase in the number of fatally injured individuals in 2017 was observed in organizations in the Braslav, Miory, Postavy, Tolochin, Chashniki, and Shumilino districts – 1 person (2016 – 0),Verkhnedvinsk district - 3 (0), Oktyabrsky district of Vitebsk city – 2 (1).

An increase in workplace injuries with severe outcomes in 2017 was noted in the organizations of: Braslav district – 4, Miory district – 4, Beshenkovichi district – 2, Sennno district – 1 (2016 – 0); Vitebsk district – 4 (3); Polotsk district and Polotsk city – 8 (6), Novopolotsk city – 13 (7).

Of particular concern are the cases of workplace injuries sustained by employees while intoxicated. Specifically, 10 employees, or 11.4% of the total number of employees killed or severely injured at work, were intoxicated at the time of the injury.

One case of workplace injury with a severe outcome while intoxicated in 2017 was registered in the organizations of Verkhnedvinsk, Braslav, Lepel, Vitebsk, and Polotsk districts.

It should be noted that in 2017, 3 people died in road traffic accidents (RTAs) in organizations in the Vitebsk region (18.8% of the total number of fatalities), which is 1 person less than in 2016. The number of victims with severe injuries as a result of RTAs also decreased: from 23 to 8 people (11.3% of the total number of severely injured).

The issue of enforcing legislation aimed at protecting the health and lives of employees while performing their duties remains acute. Special attention should be paid to ensuring employees are fully provided with personal protective equipment. Elementary violations in providing employees with personal protective equipment can lead to severe consequences.

In light of the foregoing, efforts to prevent workplace injuries should be ensured through timely and comprehensive inspections of the exercise of powers by bodies overseeing compliance with labor protection requirements, as well as an assessment of their activities and their impact on preventing an increase in workplace injuries.

Prosecutor of the Department of the Vitebsk Regional Prosecutor's Office Natalia Kolpakova.