NEWSLETTER ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team and Country Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia

#3(70) September 2017

Formal Employment as a Condition for the Realisation of Social Rights – Conference in Baku

On 7 September “The main priority for the Government of a legislative and regulatory framework for 2017, a conference Azerbaijan is to ensure employment and protect supporting people’s engagement in formal labour “Formal Employment the social rights of those who are employed. relations. “Providing formal employment will as a Condition for the Today, the government is working to implement contribute to strengthening workers’ social rights,” Realisation of Social large-scale projects aimed to safeguard social he emphasised. Rights” took place in Baku. rights. In turn, the need to protect people’s rights brings the issue of formal versus informal In her opening address, Azita Berar Awad, The event, co-organized by the Ministry of employment to the fore. The Government’s Director of the ILO Employment Policy Labour and Social Protection of Azerbaijan priority is to provide people with employment, Department, congratulated Azerbaijan for giving and the ILO, was attended by Ali Ahmadov, and once this problem is solved – and we can priority attention to formal employment as a Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the say that it has basically been solved by now – Continued on page 2 Commission on Regulation and Coordination of the status of employed population is our next Labour Relations; Salim Muslumov, Minister of priority. Therefore today, the government has Labour and Social Protection of Population of been working to ensure a gradual transformation the Republic of Azerbaijan; Sattar Mehbaliyev, of informal employment into formal Chairman of the Azerbaijan Trade Unions employment,” Ahmadov said. Confederation and Member of Parliament; Mammad Musayev, President of the National Ali Ahmadov: Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers) “The Government’s priority of the Republic of Azerbaijan; Azita Berar is to provide people with Awad, Director of the ILO Employment Policy employment, and once this Department; Frédéric Lapeyre, Head of the Informal Economy Unit, ILO; representatives problem is solved – to ensure of governmental and non-governmental a gradual transformation of organizations and international experts. informal employment into Tenth European Regional ILO Meeting formal employment” will be organized in Istanbul on 2–5 October 2017. The meeting will bring “As of end-2016, the number of informally together government, employer and employed citizens stood at 805,000 to 900,000. worker representatives of the 51 countries In other words, we are facing an important of the region to discuss creation of the objective of engaging 900,000 people in formal future of work. ILO Director-General employment,” said Salim Muslumov, Minister of Guy Ryder will present the report “What Labour and Social Protection of the Population Future for Decent Work in Europe of Azerbaijan, addressing the conference. Minister and Central Asia: Opportunities and Muslumov also noted that the Government Challenges.” of Azerbaijan has been taking steps to create Addressing the conference, Ali Ahmadov, Deputy “This Tenth European Regional Prime Minister of Azerbaijan and Chairman of Meeting provides a timely opportunity the Commission on Regulation and Coordination to look back to the Oslo Declaration of Labour Relations, said that 100,000 new jobs adopted at our last Meeting four years should be created every year to avoid a decline in ago, which called for the creation of formal employment in the country. positive pathways to overcome the negative economic, social and political Ahmadov also stressed that some 1.6 million new consequences of the crisis and restore jobs have been created in Azerbaijan in recent years, trust,” Guy Ryder said. lowering the unemployment rate to five percent. #3(70) September 2017

Continued from page 1 Azita Berar Awad: the ground for the realisation of the SDGs, in condition for the realisation of social rights and “We believe that applying the ILO particular SDG 8 on full, productive employment placing it high on the country’s policy agenda. Recommendation 204 concerning and decent work and sustainable growth, as well She welcomed the conference as an opportunity Transition from the Informal to the as initiatives in the sphere of youth employment to examine the complexity of issues that result in Formal Economy adopted by the and formalisation. informality and referred to numerous examples of countries showing that with dialogue and International Labour Conference Azita Berar Awad said, ”We believe that sustained efforts, tangible progress towards in June 2015 and adapted to the applying the ILO Recommendation 204 formalisation can be made. realities in Azerbaijan will make concerning Transition from the Informal to the a positive impact on progress in Formal Economy adopted by the International Azita Berar Awad also mentioned a number of achieving SDGs in the republic” Labour Conference in June 2015 and adapted to long-term joint projects between the ILO and the the realities in Azerbaijan will make a positive Government of Azerbaijan, such as a review of and preparation of a new National Employment impact on progress in achieving SDGs in the macroeconomic policy framework in Azerbaijan Strategy for the of period 2017 to 2030 paving republic.” 

The Future of Work We Want: Workers’ perspective in Europe and Central Asia

From 12 to 13 September the profound transformations and challenges The conference was structured around the four 2017, the Bureau for faced by the world of work today and in the “Centenary Conversations” proposed by the ILO Workers’ Activities future. ILO was represented by Maria Helena Director-General for the Centenary Initiative: “Work (ACTRAV), with the Andre, Director of the ILO Bureau for Workers’ and society’, “Decent jobs for all”, “The organizations support of the ILO Activities (ACTRAV),Olga Koulaeva, Director, of work and production”, “The governance of work”. Decent Work Team and ILO DWT/CO Office for Eastern Europe and Country Office for Eastern Europe and Central Central Asia, Anna Biondi, Deputy Director of The conference became an important landmark Asia, organized a “The Future of Work We Want: ACTRAV, Sergeyus Glovackas, Desk Officer and contributed to the Future of Work Centenary Worker’s perspective in the Europe and Central for Europe and Central Asia, ACTRAV, Gocha Initiative from a trade union perspective based on Asia” forum in Baku, Azerbaijan. Aleksandria, Specialist in Workers’ Activities, the unique issues faced by the member countries of Valentin Mocanu, Seniour Labour Administration, Europe and Central Asia and discussing possible The conference brought together workers’ Labour Inspection and Occupational Safety and policy responses, both of governments and social leaders, voices from academia, governments Health (OSH) Specialist, ILO DW CO Office for partners, as a means to promoting and protecting the and employers from across the region to discuss Eastern Europe and Central Asia. rights of working men and women. Meeting at the Russian Union of Industrialists and Enterpreneurs

On 12 July 2017, The purpose of his visit was to introduce his the Russian Union Department and its key activities to Russian of Industrialists and officials and social partners, such as RSPP Entrepreneurs (RSPP) and Federation of Independent Trade Unions hosted a meeting with of Russia, and to discuss potential areas of ILO representatives led cooperation. His visit focused on topics such by Vic van Vuuren, Director of the Enterprises as the green economy, creation of decent jobs, Department at the ILO Headquarters. Vladimir Decent Work and environmental sustainability. Curovic, ILO Moscow Senior Specialist in Employers’ Activities also attended the meeting. During the meeting at the RSPP, Vic van Vuuren received information and materials On behalf of the RSPP, Marina Moskvina, Managing describing the work of the RSPP Departments Director for Labour Market and Social Partnership, for Labour Market and Social Partnership and Elena Feoktistova, Managing Director for and for Corporate Responsibility, Sustainable Office in Moscow and to consider ways to publicise Corporate Responsibility, Sustainable Development, Development and Social Entrepreneurship. RSPP’s best practices in the areas of corporate and Social Entrepreneurship, attended the meeting. responsibility, sustainable development and social Vic van Vuuren was visiting Russia at the invitation of The meeting resulted in a decision to engage in entrepreneurship both in the ILO’s publications and the Russian Ministry of Labour and Social Protection. information sharing with support from the ILO at various international venues. 2 ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team and Country Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia

3rd BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting

On July 26-27, 2017 Chongqing, China, hosted the 3rd BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers’ meeting. The Russian delegation was headed by the Minister of Labour and Social Protection Maxim Topilin. The first BRICS Labour Ministerial was organized by the Russian Federation during its Presidency in BRICS. It was held in Ufa on January 25-26 2016.

The weight and experience of BRICS countries addition, he expressed “particular appreciation” is essential to addressing the major challenges for the role and presence of the BRICS social faced by the global economy, said ILO Director- partners who are “vital to the work we do and General, Guy Ryder, in his opening address at the that we will continue to do together”. 3rd BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers’ meeting in Chongqing. Ryder noted that the agenda of the Chongqing meeting is strongly aligned with two crucial “The strategic position of the BRICS countries global processes: The United Nations 2030 and their weight and dynamism in the global Sustainable Development Agenda and the ILO economy means that you are all addressing these Centenary Initiative on the Future of Work. challenges globally and nationally,” he said, stressing the importance of coordination and “It was under the Presidency of the Government Guy Ryder said: “It is after all a fundamental sharing of experience and good practice. of Brazil that the Fortaleza Leaders’ Summit desire of people across the world, above all in 2014 gave the initial impulse to this track of in this period of transformative change and Guy Ryder: work. Since then, Russia under the leadership of sometimes of uncertainty, that they can look “It is after all a fundamental Minister Topilin who hosted the first Ministerial forward and contribute to a better future of desire of people across the in Ufa in 2016, and then India under Minister work – one with social justice and prosperity and world, that they can look Dattatreya who took the process forward last decent work for all.” forward and contribute to a year, and now China thanks to Minister Yin Weimin better future of work” have brought us to the very Ryder underlined that the BRICS countries – impressive level that has Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – been reached today, here in represent 48 per cent of the global population Chongqing. and 21 per cent of the world’s production. “The BRICS group – as it approaches its 10th The ILO Director- anniversary – has established itself as a key actor General commended the on the international stage and in many areas of steps the five nations have policy-making. It is of the highest significance taken to promote social that labour and employment policy seems now security cooperation and to be firmly established as one of its priorities,” to establish a network of he said. labour research institutes. In

Azerbaijan Adopts Law on Compulsory Unemployment Insurance

On 5 August 2017, the Law on Compulsory Unemployment Insurance protection of the unemployed and second to President of Azerbaijan aims to provide assistance to those who have lost offer them a number of training courses to Ilham Aliyev signed their jobs and to encourage them to search for new facilitate their return to the labour market. into effect a new employment.” Law on Compulsory Idris Isayev: Unemployment Insurance Azerbaijan’s new system of unemployment “The enactment of the Law on allowing people who have lost a job to access insurance seeks first to ensure financial Compulsory Unemployment financial assistance from funds Insurance aims to provide formed by contributions made by assistance to those who have both employers and employees. lost their jobs and encourage According to Idris Isayev, Deputy them to search for new Minister of Labour and Social employment” Protection, the new law incorporates the principles and provisions of Should an insured event occur – such as closure the relevant ILO Conventions. “In of an enterprise or mass layoffs – the amount designing the new system, we studied of payment will depend on the duration of the relevant experience of 14 other insurance contributions. countries. Today, unemployment insurance in one form or another The Law on Compulsory Unemployment exists in 72 countries,” the Deputy Insurance will become effective on 1 January Minister noted. “The enactment of 2018. 3 #3(70) September 2017

Start and Improve Your Business Programme Relevant for Our Region Advanced Business Skills Course Completed by 129 Trainers in Russia

Between 14 August (Rosmolodezh) in cooperation and 2 September 2017, with the ILO. teams of participants in the You Are an Any aspiring entrepreneur can Entrepreneur programme develop the skills needed to start in five Russian regions, and manage their small business including Moscow, St. Petersburg, Stavropol, using methods and knowledge Novosibirsk and Samara, attended the ILO’s Start provided by SIYB courses. In and Improve Your Business (SIYB) courses. SYIB addition to this, SYIB supports offers training in strategies aimed at creating initiatives to create a better more and better jobs through SME startup and policy framework for setting development and business management skills. up, improving and expanding small enterprise, and works to offer a wide range In Stavropol, the training course organised by the ILO You Are an Entrepreneur is a federal programme in of financial and business planning services to in cooperation with the Russian Centre for Promotion Russia implemented by the Federal Youth Agency entrepreneurs. of Youth Entrepreneurship, was hosted by the Stavropol State Agrarian University. 24 people from Stavropol, Krasnodar Region, Chechnya, Dagestan, Karachaevo-Cherkessia, Kalmykia and Astrakhan Region, including ten faculty members of the University, attended the course in entrepreneurship.

A total of 129 trainers upgraded their skills and qualifications and received SIYB trainer certificates. 

Results and Plans for SIYB in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan has launched districts were allowed to present their business businesses will be monitored for a year, and then its Start and Improve plans and 1,385 business plans were selected. those which meet the established requirements Your Business (SIYB) Of all winning business plans, 84% are in and standards will become full owners of the programme in 2016. agriculture, mainly in livestock and poultry state-provided assets.  The Ministry of Labour farming, 9.4% are in the services sector, such and Social Protection of as beauty and hair salons, computer salons, Azerbaijan, jointly with the State Employment dressmaking, car washes and repairs, and 6.6% Service, began to offer training to aspiring are in the manufacturing sector. entrepreneurs lacking start-up capital, relevant skills and access to subsidies. The Ministry has procured and handed over the required assets to be used by 825 participants in The country joined forces with the ILO to help a number of cities and regions to support the build the capacity of future entrepreneurs. implementation of their business plans. The new

As part of the Partnerships for Youth Employment in the CIS Project, the ILO In 2017, ILO Moscow focused on has assisted the Azerbaijan Ministry of translating SIYB guides and preparing Labour and Social Protection in training their publication in Russian. The SIYB 136 business trainers for the SIYB project, implemented with financial Programme. First, business trainers support from the Partnerships for Youth explained the programme objectives, potential challenges and solutions to Employment in the CIS Project, is the participants. Then, each programme coordinated by Fredy Guayacan, ILO participant presented his or her business Moscow Enterprise Specialist. Today plan to the selection board. we are happy to announce that the first guides are available electronically and A few statistics can illustrate the scale will soon be published in hard copies. For Minister of Labour and Social Protection Salim Muslumov, ILO Regional and intensity of the effort involved. Of Director Heinz Koller and DWT/CO Moscow Deputy Director more information about the SIYB guides the 1,819 admitted applicants, 1,644 Shurenchimeg Zokhiolt visited a vocational education centre in Baku and in Russian, see Publications, page 7. attended the awarding ceremony for trainers of the ILO’s the Start and aspiring entrepreneurs from 84 cities and Improve Your Business SIYB Programme. (ILO Newsletter #3, 2016) 4 ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team and Country Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia

Two Training Courses in Maternity Protection Held in Tajikistan Between 12 to 16 issues. The training sessions were organised September 2017, by the ILO in cooperation with the Federation Tajikistan’s cities of of Independent Trade Unions (FITU) of Kurgan-Tube and Tajikistan. First Deputy Chair of the FITU Kalaihum (Darvaz) Ismoil Sharifzoda and the Deputy Chair Ismoil hosted training courses Faizizoda opened the trainings. in “Maternity Protection in the Social Security Dimension” as part of constituents’ capacity The training sessions were attended by building in dealing with social protection 35 representatives of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions, including legal and technical inspectors and high-level trade union officials – two national-level and 12 partners and about how to promote maternity regional leaders. The sessions focused on protection standards and defend workers’ rights issues such as the key differences between ILO in maternity protection cases. The training Convention No.103 (ratified by Tajikistan) and sessions were interactive, encouraging trainee ILO Convention No.183 (non-ratified) and the engagement. latter’s five main elements, namely duration of the maternity leave, non-discrimination According to Artiom Sici, ILO Social Protection before and after employment, health care, cash Officer in Tajikistan, the training sessions benefits and breastfeeding at workplace. Also, contributed to building the knowledge and the participants learned about the roles of social capacity of FITU organisations in Tajikistan. 

Towards a Future of Work without Child Labour and Forced Labour in Europe and Central Asia

The ILO’ Bureau for in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development to the fight against child labour in cooperation Workers ‘Activities Goals’ target 8.7. with social partners and the ILO through the (ACTRAV) organised country project supported by the ILO Fundamental a two-day regional Addressing the conference, Kyrgyzstan‘s Minister Principles and Rights at Work Branch. conference on the role of of Labour and Social Development Taalaikul trade unions in Europe Isakunova reiterated the government’s commitment With the support of ACTRAV, unions will prepare in the fight against child labour and forced strategies and coordinate their policies to combat labour from 19 to 20 July 2017 in Kyrgyzstan. child labour and forced labour in the region.

In her opening remarks, ACTRAV Director The two-day meeting brought together Maria Helena André stressed the key role participants from 15 countries in the region, played by trade unions in eradicating child international trade union organisations and labour and forced labour in the region. Maria ILO specialists. It is part of a range of regional Helena André encouraged participants to meetings in preparation for the upcoming IV intensify their efforts and speed up their Global Conference on the Sustained Eradication actions to eliminate child labour in all its of Child Labour which will be held in Buenos forms by 2025 and forced labour by 2030 Aires from 14 to 16 November 2017.

Discussion of ILO Programmes to Combat Child Labour in Kyrgyzstan

On 8 August 2017, Osh, implemented in Osh in partnership with the ILO, [children in child labour] and providing them Kyrgyzstan, Vice Mayor such as PROACT CAR and a project for promoting with social support and access to school and Nurbek Kadyrov met and strengthening the child labour monitoring vocational education.” In particular, the Vice Mayor with Tino Clemens of (CLM) system as part of social protection in Osh. mentioned the Mol-bulak Rehabilitation Centre the German Federal working to help children affected by child labour Ministry for Economic Vice Mayor Kadyrov said, “Work is underway to and facing difficult life circumstances return to Cooperation and Development. introduce sustainable mechanisms for identifying school for proper education and social integration.

They discussed workplans under the ongoing ILO Nurbek Kadyrov: The parties expressed their confidence that programmes in the Kyrgyz Republic, in particular, “Work is underway to introduce reviewing the effect of currently supported ILO Project Combating child labour in Central sustainable mechanisms for activities will bring good results and highlight Asia: Commitment becomes Action (PROACT priority areas for cooperation. CAR) , and others. identifying children in child labour and providing them Bolotbek Orokov, national coordinator for According to Vice Mayor Nurbek Kadyrov, the with social support and access Kyrgyzstan and Amina Kurbanova, national project Government of Germany has been supporting a to school and vocational coordinator in Kyrgyzstan participated in the number of projects in Kyrgyzstan, including those education” working meetings. 5 #3(70) September 2017

#VCTatWORK This Concerns Everyone A two-day seminar on strengthening the HIV Stories of People Living and AIDS prevention in with HIV the workplace was held Video clips about how people with HIV live with ILO support in the are being filmed within the framework of Ordzhonikidzevsky District of the Sverdlovsk ILO project in Yekaterinburg. Region. The seminar brought together representatives of major local employers for a detailed discussion of the current situation and future outlook. In addition to this, a rapid testing facility has recently been opened, offering Vyacheslav Trapeznikov, Head of the District, was one of everyone an opportunity tolearn their HIV status. the first to take the rapid HIV test

Sverdlovsk Region is the first in Russia to The challenging and vital matters discussed at the pilot this unique health promotion project. seminar left no one indifferent. In particular, the Its Ordzhonikidzevsky District has previously discussion focused on lifting the stigma which hosted new initiatives in this sphere; in 2014, it currently affects people living with HIV and was the first to open a mobile testing site run by raising public awareness of the importance of the Sverdlovsk Regional AIDS Prevention and prevention. While HIV and AIDS are not a death Control Centre. sentence, ignorance and denial of the problem pose a real threat to society.

Members of the Ordzhonikidzevsky District Administration have been actively involved in the project and many of them used the A role play is being arranged at the seminar opportunity to access a specialist consultation in on HIV/AIDS programme at the work the workplace: Vyacheslav Trapeznikov, Head of place in Yekaterinburg. Polina Rodimkina (right) who has lived with HIV for more than the District, was one of the first to take the rapid 15 years plays the role of the plant director HIV test. implementing HIV prevention programme.

The seminar agenda featured a discussion designed to refine and update the participants’ knowledge about HIV and AIDS, a detailed consultation on HIV testing, an overview of the current situation in the city and region, and a discussion of pressing issues such as discrimination in the workplace and solutions for adapting the project to specific enterprises.

Statistical Support to SDGs in Kyrgyzstan On 21 and 22 September related to the Sustainable Development Goals 2017, Bishkek, the capital (SDGs) for decent work, including a methodology of Kyrgyzstan, hosted for measuring any mismatch between employee the ILO seminar “The skills and the work performed, and for measuring role of labour market labour productivity. This workshop is the first in a information. Improving the system of labour series of planned activities focusing on the SDGs. market indicators”. It was organized in cooperation The event was held as part of the ILO project with the National Statistical Committee of the «From the Crisis towards Decent and Safe Jobs in Kyrgyz Republic and was opened by the Deputy Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, Phase II», implemented Chair of the said Committee Ljuksina Tekeyeva. with support from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs The seminar participants explored various aspects of Finland. 6 ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team and Country Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia

Our PUBLICATIONS All publications can be found at our website www.ilo.ru

Collective Bargaining. A policy guide In Russian This is a Russian translation of a publication produced by the International Labour Office in Geneva. This policy guide is aimed at public authorities tasked with establishing or improving the effectiveness of policies and institutions that promote collective bargaining. It provides guidance in respect of the essential elements of a policy to promote collective bargaining, the process by which such a policy might be formulated and some considerations for enhancing the inclusiveness of collective bargaining institutions. It can be used in a variety of institutional contexts and national traditions. It supports the development of policies to promote collective bargaining through tripartite social dialogue.

Start and Improve Your Business. Achieve sustainable and inclusive growth. In Russian This is a Russian translation of a publication produced by the International Labour Office in Geneva. SIYB is one of the largest global business management training programmes. It helps small-scale entrepreneurs to start and grow their business, as a strategy to create more and better employment for women and men.

Start and Improve Your Business. Implementation Guide In Russian This is a Russian translation of a publication produced by the International Labour Office in Geneva. This Guide is intended as a practical tool to support the implementation of the Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) programme. It provides step-by-step guidance for the successful introduction of SIYB in a given context, from carrying out an initial market assessment to planning for sustainability.

A Rough Guide to Value Chain Development. How to create employment and improve working conditions in targeted sectors In Russian This is a Russian translation of a publication produced by the International Labour Office in Geneva. This “Rough Guide to Value Chain Development” has been developed for development practitioners, governments and private sector initiatives to give a simplified overview of the Value Chain Development approach as applied by the International Labour Organization..

7 News in BRIEF

end forced labour, modern slavery, human trafficking Sergeyus Glovackas, Desk Officer for Europe and child labour that brings together key partners and Central Asia of the ILO Bureau for Workers’ representing governments, UN organisations, the Activities (Geneva, ACTRAV) and Gocha private sector, workers’ and employers’ organizations Alexandria, Senior Specialist for the Workers’ and civil society in order to achieve Sustainable Activities in the ILO Moscow office, met with ILO Week in Georgia Development Goal Target 8.7. representatives of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic In early July 2017, Georgia hosted three major of Kazakhstan and other state bodies. They also events in Batumi, Adjara, organised on the ILO met with representatives of the Kazakh trade initiative and attended by representatives of the Second Phase of the Project unions to discuss challenges and opportunities for ILO, government, labour unions, as well as legal “Applying the G20 Training the development of trade unions in Kazakhstan. professionals and members of academia. The week Strategy” Discussed in Moscow of 11 to 15 July 2017 in Georgia can be described Together with the Unions Federations (the as the ILO Week. On 30 June, 2017, ILO officials and senior Federation of Trade Unions of Kazakhstan and representatives of the Ministries of Education and the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions A Strategic Tripartite Workshop on Social Dialogue Science, Finance, Labour and Social Protection, of Kazakhstan), the ILO representatives discussed was held in Adjara as well as ILO facilitated a Foreign Affairs, employers and workers’ the ongoing legislative changes in the social and two-day training session on the international labour organizations and other key stakeholders involved labour sphere, including the need of improving the standards (ILS) for members of the Georgian Bar in Skills Development met in Moscow to discuss compliance with the ratified ILO Conventions to Association (GBA) and its Adjara branch. Also the the second phase of the Project, which represents which the ILO supervisory bodies have drawn the ILO, in cooperation with the High School of Justice a continued response of the Russian Federation attention of the Government of Kazakhstan at the (HSoJ) and the GBA, held the first local Bench- and the ILO to support the application of the G20 last International Labour Conference . Bar type of event, attended by judges and legal Training Strategy. practitioners from all parts of Georgia. The project represents a sustained commitment Lejo Sibbel, Senior International Labour Standards of the Government of the Russian Federation XXI World Congress on Safety and Labour Law Specialist, ILO Moscow, to strengthen regional and global efforts on and Health at Work in Singapore participated in the event. Skills Development to support productivity, competitiveness and growth. It is aimed at The new figures pointing to a growing body of strengthening national Skills Development evidence demonstrating the global cost of failing systems, policies and strategies so that to improve to adequately address existing and emerging New Large-Scale Global employability of both women and men in the six occupational safety and health (OSH) concerns, Research countries: Armenia, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and to the importance of OSH to sustainable Vietnam and five Regions of the Russian development were presented by ILO at the XXI New research developed jointly by the ILO and Federation. World Congress on Safety and Health at Work, the Walk Free Foundation in partnership with the which was organized in Singapore from 3 to 6 International Organization for Migration (IOM), September, 2017. has revealed the true scale of modern slavery around the world. The data, released during the Kazakhstan: ILO calls for Youth and OSH was a key theme at the XXI United Nations General Assembly, shows that implementation of Labour World Congress and central to ILO’s flagship more than 40 million people around the world were Standards Occupational Safety and Health-Global Action for victims of modern slavery in 2016. The ILO have Prevention Programme. also released a companion estimate of child labour, From 26 to 28 September, two representatives which confirms that about 152 million children, of the International Labour Organization (ILO) The ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team aged between 5 and 17, were subject to child labour. visited Kazakhstan to discuss the implementation and Country Office for Eastern Europe and Central of ILO Conventions and Recommendations by the Asia was represented by Valentin Mocanu, Senior The new global estimates are a collective effort from government and the situation of trade unions in the Labour Administration, Labour Inspection and members of Alliance 8.7, the global partnership to country. Occupational Safety and Health Specialist.

Newsletter is published four times a year in Russian and English. It is distributed free of charge. All correspondence should be addressed to: 107031, Russia, Moscow, 15 Petrovka st., office 23 Editor-in-chief: Olga Bogdanova Tel: +7 (495) 933–0810 Fax: +7 (495) 933–0820 E–mail: [email protected] Website: www.ilo.ru Twitter: www.twitter.com/ILO News RUS Facebook: www.facebook/ILO.rus.news ISSN 1811–1351