On March 23, discussion on Labor Rights in Georgia was held at Caucasus International University. The discussion was lead by Amiran Zenaishvili – the doctor of law and the chairman of Georgian Trade Union Confederation and by Lina Ghvinianidze – the Social Rights Program director of Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center.
The speakers pointed out that labor human rights, low pay and violation of safety rules still remains one of the most significant problems in Georgia.
According to Amiran Zenaishvili government is not taking concrete steps to regulate rights of the employees and the issue is left behind the public sphere. Business organizations make their employees continue working in the toughest conditions without any resistance. They are manipulating with difficult social conditions of employees, fear of losing job and absence of choices for other employment.
Lina Ghvinianidze pointed out that because of unsafe working conditions and work-related injuries around 200 workers died in recent years and many were seriously injured. The problem is due to poor labor rights regulations and there is no responsible institution for that. The government of Georgia is obliged to protect the rights of the employees, who are permanently exploited by the owners of private companies.
With the financial support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in the framework of the project Strengthening Electoral Processes (SEP), implemented by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), the Civic Education Lecturers Association (CELA) continues discussion series on “Democracy Dialogues”, which aims to raise the awareness of students and create a space for discussion.
