No fewer than 28 employers' organisations from 15 central and eastern European nations were represented at top level in Turin during the second week of May. They came to take part in a Workshop organized jointly by ILO and IOE - the International Organisation of Employers - and financed by contributions from the Dutch government and ILO's regular budget.
The workshop, held at the ILO's Inter- national Training Centre, focussed on the organisation, administration, financing and management of employers' organisations in market economies. A group of western European employer representatives, IOE leaders and ILO Directors lectured, debated and led discussions with expertise and engagement for five days, together with course leaders from the Turin Centre, ILO's Employer Bureau and CEET's Employer Specialist, who was assisted by his colleague from the ILO ' s East Asia Multidisciplinary Team.
As half the time was used for plenary discussions and meetings of working groups, participants were given ample opportunity to express their opinions, contrast their experience with that of west European colleagues, and debate numerous issues. This kept everybody active and ensured that the workshop focussed on what was needed to manage employer organisations in central and eastern Europe.
Many questions were triggered by the lectures and discussions. They ranged from basic definitions and the `how-to- do' of market relations, over frustration at transition set-backs, economic difficulties and social tensions, on to how to tackle constraints to the operation of employers' organisations, and ended on how to make governments understand the needs of private enterprise and what to do when trade unions were losing influence or did not organise private sector workers.
The workshop proved successful and should strengthen the employer dimension in the ILO's work in the region. It should also strengthen essential international networks of contacts and cooperation. BG.
