ILO delegation visits Georgia.
At the invitation of the Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affaires of Georgia a high-level ILO delegation led by Executive Director Kari Tapiola visited Georgia on September 26-28 to hold discussions with the government and social partners on labour and social issues in Georgia, includingprospects for signing a Decent Work Country Program (DWCP) and cooperation in issues related to the Labour Code and labour legislation. The delegation also included Officer-in-Charge Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia Alena Nesporova, ILO Moscow Office Director Elaine Fultz, International Labour Standards Specialist of the ILO Moscow Office Alain Pelce, and programme coordinator Olga Mzhavanadze.
28 September 2007
Tripartite partners agreed to start preparations for signing the Decent Work Country Programme. Among suggested DWCP priorities are youth employment, including development of business skills of young people; vocational education and training for the development of human resources in Georgia; and capacity building for social partners and social dialogue. Besides, employers indicated the need to cover occupational safety and health issues, while workers would like to address the role of labour inspection and the child labour problem.
It was also decided to hold a roundtable meeting in early 2008 to discuss the Labour Code and the implementation of labour law in Georgia and to determine further needs and action.
During the visit the tripartite partners – government, employers and trade unions – proposed that the ILO would carry out a rapid assessment on child labour in Georgia. This assessment will be discussed at a tripartite workshop, so as to develop a common understanding on the extent and nature of child labour in Georgia and to ensure that Georgia is in conformity with ILO Conventions No.138 and No.142.