The Georgian Trade Unions Confederation, together with leading organizations, under the leadership of Irakli Petriashvili, participates in the 112th annual conference of the International Labor Organization. The delegation from the trade unions is represented by: Chairman of the Union – Irakli Petriashvili, Deputies: Raisa Liparteliani and Tamar Surmava, Chairman of the Professional Union of Metropolitan Workers – Besik Kharatishvili, Chairman of the Professional Union of Metallurgical, Mining and Chemical Industry Workers – Temur Suramelashvili, Deputy Chairman of the Professional Union of Builders and Forestry Workers – Shota Javakhadze.
Within the framework of the conference, the delegation of trade unions held a number of meetings with partner organizations and representatives of countries. Among them, on June 12, Maria Helena met Andres, Director of the Bureau of Workers’ Activities (ACTRAV) of the International Labor Organization.
At the meeting, Maria Helena Andre noted that Georgian Trade Unions Confederation is an advanced, exemplary organization in the region, which greatly contributes to the introduction and establishment of the standards of the International Labor Organization. Also, he noted the successes that the union of trade unions achieved at the national level with the involvement of the International Labor Organization – creation of labor inspection, improvement of labor legislation, etc. Also, he focused on the ILO Standards Committee, on the successful positioning of the Union of Georgian Trade Unions on the problematic issues related to the implementation of the 100th Convention – “On Equal Pay for Women and Men” and noted that it is important to make great efforts to reduce the wage gap between women and men. In the direction of elimination, as well as work on the introduction of the minimum wage standard. in which he pledged full support to the union.
The director of the Workers’ Activities Bureau of the International Labor Organization (ACTRAV) expressed hope that the Georgia Decent Labor Program will soon be signed by social partners – the Government of Georgia, trade unions and employers’ representatives, which should lead to the improvement of decent labor standards in Georgia in the future.
Maria Helena Andre wished success to the Georgian Trade Unions Confederation on the way to join the European Union of Trade Unions (ETUC) and noted that this will be a great step forward not only for the trade unions and their members, but also for Georgia as a whole.