Three essential questions to Aleksandar Ristovski, Professor of Labour Law, Skopje

21 September 2021

In the third issue of short interviews with important researchers and practitioners from Central and Eastern Europe on burning questions concerning labour and social policies, we talked to Aleksandar Ristovski, Professor of Labour Law at ‘Ss. Cyril and Methodius’ University in Skopje, North Macedonia. We asked him about the restriction of labour rights following the COVID-19 crisis, particularly those of the most vulnerable, and about how to guarantee labour rights as we are building back better.

ILO Budapest Newsletter 2021 September

16 September 2021

This issue reports on ILO response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Central and Eastern European region. It introduces programme results and new projects, and features fresh publications and new staff. Videos with the Director and Technical Specialists of the Office guide viewers on what the ILO did to mitigate the pandemic crisis, and on the services it can offer.

© European Women's Lobby 2022

Three Essential Questions: Interview with Réka Sáfrány, President of European Women's Lobby

15 September 2021

This is the second issue of short interviews with important researchers and practitioners from Central and Eastern Europe on burning questions concerning labour and social policies. The interviewee this time is Réka Sáfrány, newly elected President of the European Women's Lobby. We asked her about women's labour participation in the region, why the pandemic hit women disproportionally and the most vulnerable within this group of workers.

MEET THE DIRECTOR: What has been the impact of the pandemic in the region?

15 September 2021

Markus Pilgrim, Director of the ILO Office for Central and Eastern Europe talks about the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on labour markets in the region, what the ILO has done to mitigate the impact and what the emerging trends are in employment. The pandemic led to a severe economic recession in the region, with about 8% of working hours lost in 2020, an equivalent of 10 million jobs. These losses translated into an increase in inactivity, many people dropping out of the labour market. The ILO CEE Office started to collect solid evidence on the impact of the pandemic in spring 2020, and produced assessment reports in four Western Balkan countries, which led to several policy changes in these countries. In addition, the office designed job and income protection measures, such as a cash transfer project for dismissed Albanian textile workers. The next big thing is the ongoing technological transformation, fair transition towards a digital and green economy, which means a major shift from traditional to new sectors and re-skilling.

Technical recommendations to the draft legal act "On approval of the Minimum Safety and Health Protection Requirements for Workers in Workplaces"

12 September 2021

These are the EU-ILO Project technical recommendations to the draft legal act "On approval of the Minimum Safety and Health Protection Requirements for Workers in Workplaces", developed by the State Labour Service of Ukraine.

They are aimed at better aligning the provisions of this legal act with the Council Directive 89/654/EEC, of 30 November 1989, concerning the minimum safety and health requirements for the workplace, as foreseen in the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement.

MEET THE SPECIALISTS: Alessandra Molz, Skills

16 August 2021

Alessandra Molz, ILO Skills Specialist explains how she assists governments, worker and employer organizations in developing quality vocational education and training for young people, and lifelong learning opportunities for adult workers in Central and Eastern Europe. Her work includes skills needs anticipation, identifying skills mismatches, development of new methodologies, such as e-Learning and blended learning, and building bridges between employers and workers, or employers and education. The world of work is changing, young people and adults equally need new skills that prepare them for the future of work.

We have done a lot to support national partners, and Ukraine should do its part — interview

15 August 2021

Read the interview about Ukraine's interim progress in reforming the OSH field and the barriers to better aligning the national legislation with International and European labour standards. Antonio Santos, EU-ILO Project Manager, for the "Occupational Safety and Health" magazine, August 2021.

© AFP/Europress 2022

ITUC Global Rights Index for 2021 shows that COVID-19 impacted workers’ rights in Central and Eastern Europe

10 August 2021

The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) has released its yearly Global Rights Index for 2021. The report shows that the COVID-19 pandemic led to an increase in violations of workers’ rights across the globe. In Europe, the most frequently violated rights have been the rights to strike, to go for collective bargaining, and to establish and join a trade union. For Central and Eastern Europe, the index shows a mixed picture. While some countries increased workers’ access to rights, other countries moved in the opposite direction.

Technical recommendations to the draft legal act on Minimum safety and health requirements for the use of work equipment by workers at work

08 August 2021

These are the EU-ILO Project technical recommendations to the draft legal act “Minimum safety and health requirements for the use of work equipment by workers at work”, prepared by the State Labour Service of Ukraine.

They are aimed at better aligning the provisions of this legal act with the Council Directive 2009/104/EC, of 16 September 2009, concerning the minimum safety and health requirements for the use of work equipment by workers at work, as foreseen in the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement.

Technical recommendations to MSP Order No. 1804, of 29.11.2018, “On approval of the Minimum Safety and Health Protection Requirements for the Use by Workers of Personal Protective Equipment at the Workstation”

08 August 2021

These are the EU-ILO Project technical recommendations regarding the Ministry of Social Policy (MSP) Order No. 1804, of 29.11.2018, “On approval of the Minimum Safety and Health Protection Requirements for the Use by Workers of Personal Protective Equipment at the workstation”.

They are aimed at better aligning national legislation with the Council Directive 89/656/EEC, of 30 November 1989, on the minimum health and safety requirements for the use by workers of personal protective equipment at the workplace, as foreseen in the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement.