Social Dialogue

New processing technologies, policies with regard to genetically modified crops, uneven access to information and communications technology and, in turn, certain distribution and marketing practices affect not only the food and drink sector but the entire food chain. In addition, more and more stringent quality control standards introduce inequalities among trading partners, not only in terms of the value chain but equally with regard to the benefits accruing to different segments of the population from globalized processes. Similarly, growing instances of social labelling, eco-labelling and “ethical consumerism” call for concerted and coherent policy decisions based on social dialogue.

ILO Activities

• From 13-14 September 2005, the ILO organized a sub-regional tripartite meeting (selected CEE countries) in Kiev, Ukraine to examine ways to provide capacity to the social partners to assist in dealing with social dialogue issues in the tobacco industry. Participating countries were Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Moldova, Russian Federation and Ukraine.
  
  
• A national seminar on the food and drink industry held in December 2005 led to the signing of a national branch collective agreement in the confectionery sub-sector in Ukraine.