Training for trade union lawyers and leaders on the use of international labour standards and the ILO supervisory machinery
On July 25-27, 2019 in Issykkul region, Kyrgyzstan, a three-day training workshop was organized for trade union leaders and lawyers from Central Asia on the use of international labour standards and the ILO supervisory machinery.

The training brought together representatives of trade unions from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The participants were familiarized with the ILO Regular and Special supervisory mechanisms and discussed the role of trade unions in the ILO supervisory machinery.
“It is particularly important to equip our social partners with the knowledge on international labour standards so that they could help governments to bring national legislations in compliance with the international labour law”, - said Kamaldin Toktosartov, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Development of Kyrgyzstan who attended the workshop.

Oksana Wolfson, Head of the Unit, Freedom of Association Branch, NORMES made detailed presentations on provisions of the ILO Convention No. 87 and No. 89 and the special procedure for complaints regarding freedom of association through the Freedom of Association Committee.
The situation concerning the freedom of association in the countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia was further debated during the session run by ILO Moscow Specialist in Workers’ Activities, Gocha Aleksandria who provided examples of good progress as well as situations of concern in some countries, including Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Laimonas Pivoras, Lithuanian trade union lawyer, shared his experience in strengthening national social dialogue and promoting application of ILS in Lithuania.
The participants drafted country work plans for the strategic use of the ILS System for 2019 in order to reach the reporting submission date of 1 September.
“We expect that the training would help workers organizations to better explore ILO supervisory mechanisms and strengthen national mechanisms to apply international labour standards at the country levels” – said Sergeyus Glovackas, ACTRAV Desk officer for Europe and Central Asia.