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

#4(51) December 2012 International high-level conference on decent work takes place in Moscow and fully take on board the labour and em- and that social dialogue was crucial for a ployment policies that are an essential part of sound design of the policies.” the response to economic crisis.” Among other issues, delegates agreed on the “Together, here in Moscow, we can send out need for core labour standards; for labour very important messages: that whatever the markets to be adaptable to promote recovery diffi culties, the ILO stays fi rm in its commit- and inclusive economic growth, while rein- ment to social justice and to decent work. forcing respect for rights; to tailor occupation- Because it is precisely these values, unchang- al safety and health programmes for small and ing, which show us the way out of this crisis medium sized enterprises in the context of the as they have out of past crises,” he said. ongoing economic and social crisis; to have Guy Ryder particularly wel- The International High-Level Conference on comed the decision to hold Decent Work organized by the Russian gov- a joint G20 Finance and ernment with the support of the International Labour Ministers’ Confer- Labour Organization took place in Moscow ence under the Russian on December 11-12. It concluded its two-day Presidency. meeting by highlighting the increased conver- UN Secretary-General Ban gence of countries’ economic and social poli- Ki-moon sent his greetings cies with the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda. to the international high- Some 900 high-level representatives from level conference on decent 80 countries attended the conference which, work noting that “employ- among other issues, discussed the impact of ment is a critical pathway to globalization on labour markets and labour poverty reduction and eco- standards. nomic empowerment.” Panel discussions were devoted to such issues “The creation of decent jobs as the role of labour standards and their infl u- continues to be a high prior- ence on the economic growth; the creation ity for the United Nations,” The conference’s Presidium (from left to right): Mikhail Shmakov, chairman of adaptable labour markets and protection Ban Ki-moon said. of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia, Guy Ryder, ILO of workers’ rights; safe and protected work- Director-General, Maxim Topilin, Minister of Labour and Social Protection, Russian Deputy Prime Min- places; proper social protection of workers in Olga Golodets, Deputy Prime Minister, Andrei Denisov, First Deputy ister Olga Golodets reported the post-crisis economic recovery. They also Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alexander Shokhin, president of the Russian at the conference that unem- Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs focused on demographic trends and effective ployment in Russia is cur- regulation of labour migration to ensure a bal- rently the lowest since the Soviet era and will social security systems acting as automatic so- ance on the labour market; youth employment be maintained at this level in 2013. cial and economic stabilizers in times of crisis; promotion and job encouragement through for a more integrated approach to promote entrepreneurship development and expansion She emphasised that the creation of well-paid youth employment and for the improvement of small and medium businesses. jobs with comfortable working conditions for Russian citizens should be an absolute priority of the business-enabling environment, includ- for the government. ing social dialogue between government and social partners. ILO Deputy-Director General, Sandra Po- laski, stressed the need for more quality jobs: “Speakers agreed that it was useful to learn from positive reform experiences in this area Guy Ryder: “Whatever the diffi cul- ties, the ILO stays fi rm Noting that Russia is taking over the G20 Presidency, ILO Director-General Guy Ryder in its commitment to said: “I am absolutely convinced that Russia social justice and to de- will play a key role in pursuing the progress In the conference’s hall an exhibition of the ILO’s accomplished by previous G20 Presidencies cent work. ” publications was organized Newsletter #4(51) December 2012

ILO and Russian Federation launch new strategic era of cooperation The International Labour Organization and relations in the Russian Federation with a view known as Skolkovo, in partnership with the the Russian Federation have launched a new to achieving decent work. International Labour Organization. strategic era of cooperation with the signing The following key priorities have been agreed The G20 Training Strategy for a Skilled Work- of three key agreements on the sidelines of upon by the government and the social part- force for Strong, Sustainable and Balanced the conference on decent work. ners: to increase employment opportunities Growth was prepared by the International The agreements aim at further promoting and create better jobs; to ensure safe working Labour Organization. decent work in the Russian Federation, help- conditions and enhance social protection; and Leaders at the 2010 G20 summit in Seoul ing other countries to improve delivery of to promote international labour standards, and pledged to support countries in implementing skills for employment, and promote youth strengthen social dialogue. skills for employment, building on the Train- employment. It continues previous coopera- ing Strategy. tion programmes and takes into The agreement promotes innovative pro- account the impact of the global grammes that aim to bridge education and crisis, the economic recovery training, to expand growth and economic and globalization of the labour diversifi cation and to create more and better market. jobs. Russia supports G20 ILO-Lukoil partnership in Training Strategy as youth employment ILO donor The International Labour Organization and The second document is an agree- Lukoil have signed a partnership agreement ment between the International to start global cooperation that will permit Labour Organization and the the two partners to initially work in three ar- Ministry of Finance of the Rus- eas – youth employment, shared expertise and sian Federation. It applies the G20 training – before expanding into additional ones. The Programme of Cooperation was signed by (from left to right): Training Strategy in three coun- tries of the Commonwealth of Alexander Shokhin, president of the Russian Union of Industrialists Lukoil agreed to support the International and Entrepreneurs, Guy Ryder, ILO Director-General, Maxim Independent States (CIS), Jordan Topilin, Minister of Labour and Social Relations, Mikhail Shmakov, and Vietnam. Labour Organization in the design and imple- chairman of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia mentation of a technical cooperation project In May 2012, the Russian parlia- entitled “Partnerships for youth employ- ment approved US$ 8 million for the project, ment in the Commonwealth of Independent ILO-Russia Programme of which is expected to run for three years. States”. Cooperation for 2013-2016 It is the Russian government’s fi rst technical Lukoil also agreed to cooperate with the ILO’s The main objective of the ILO-Russia Pro- project with the ILO. Bureau for Employers’ Activities on training gramme of Cooperation for 2013-2016 is to Key aspects of the project will be implement- programmes, and to start a close collaboration promote the further development of labour ed by the Moscow School of Management, for sharing expertise. ■ ILO Director-General holds important meetings in Moscow

During his visit to Russia ILO Director- Trade Unions of Russia Mikhail Shmakov and “We consider the ILO’s work very useful, General Guy Ryder met with Russian Prime president of the Confederation of Labour of we take part in its programmes and we have Minister Dmitry Medvedev, First Deputy Russia, Boris Kravchenko. ratifi ed a large number of ILO conventions, Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrei Denisov, although the efforts to modernise our legisla- and ILO tripartite constituents - Minister of Guy Ryder meets Russian tion are not over yet and we will continue to Labour and Social Protection Maxim Topilin, Prime Minister do this with due regard for the priorities set president of the Russian Union of Industrial- Dmitry Medvedev emphasized that “Russia by the International Labour Organization,” ists and Entrepreneurs, Alexander Shokhin, has always been and will remain an active par- he said. chairman of the Federation of Independent ticipant in the ILO’s events.” Continued on Page 3 2 ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team and Country Offi ce for Eastern Europe and Central Asia

ILO Director-General holds Guy Ryder gives interviews to important meetings in Moscow leading media Continued from Page 2 “This experience allowed to develop pro- Guy Ryder said in turn, “the ILO has solid grammes that were launched as anti-crisis relations with the Russian Federation, and our measures and to integrate them into the cur- rent policy on the labour market,” he said. Dmitry Medvedev: “This includes support for unemployed per- sons in starting their business and creating “Russia has always been specialized workplaces for disabled persons,” and will remain an active Topilin said. Guy Ryder also held constructive and fruitful participant in the ILO’s meetings with heads of the employers’ and events.” workers’ organizations - Alexander Shokhin, Guy Ryder gave an exclusive interview to Mikhail Shmakov and Boris Kravchenko. the Echo of Moscow radio station. The meeting is a good opportunity to exchange discussion focused on problems of the views and further strengthen our relations.” Talks at Russian Ministry of global unemployment, in particular the Meetings with ILO Foreign Affairs growing unemployment among youth, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs An- remuneration, labour migration and the constituents drei Denisov and Guy Ryder exchanged opin- reform of Russia’s pension system (watch Minister of Labour and Social Protection ions on the state of relations between Russia and listen to the interview at www.echo. Maxim Topilin at the meeting with the ILO and the ILO and prospects for stepping them msk.ru/guests/806574-echo/). Director-General emphasized that Russia had up, Russia’s possible participation in the im- taken signifi cant efforts, including fi nancial plementation of the ILO programmes and the He also gave interviews to TV channels ones, in the wake of the 2008-2010 economic tasks of advancing social and labour issues on RussiaToday and Rossiya 24 and the crisis to prevent tensions on the labour market. the international scene. ■ BBC Russian Service. ■ December 1 - World AIDS Day “Getting to zero at work” This World AIDS Day commemoration carries a unanimous hope that the world can bring an end to AIDS. Yes, progress has been made but challenges re- main as AIDS related illnesses are still threatening the lives of many workers and those who depend on them; families, communities and enterprises. Today the ILO reaffi rms its commitment to using the workplace as a gateway to “Getting to zero new HIV infections, Zero discrimination and Zero AIDS- related deaths” in close collaboration with its constituencies: governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations, UNAIDS,civil society, including organizations of people living with HIV, and all development partners. The central role of our social partners facilitated by the use of social dialogue should allow the work- place policies and programmes to contribute signifi cantly towards Getting to zero. The ILO’s Recommendation No. 200 on HIV/AIDS and the World of Work, together with our Code of Practice, provide sound guidance on workplace action in “Getting to zero”. We are launching a campaign on “Getting to zero at work”. Heads of UNAIDS cosponsoring agencies and the Secretariat have joined in, recognizing the vital role that the workplace plays in the global struggle to limit the spread and effects of the epidemic. (Extracts from the ILO Director-General Guy Ryder’s statement) Law enforcers improve of Republican Subordination, civil society, including people living with HIV, experts from knowledge on HIV/AIDS the ILO and the Joint United Nations Pro- related problems gramme on HIV/AIDS. On November 27- ILO Moscow Focal Point for HIV/AIDS and 28 a workshop to the World of Work for Eastern Europe and raise awareness of Central Asia, Elena Kudriavtseva, presented law enforcement the ILO Recommendation concerning HIV and judicial system and AIDS and the World of Work, 2010 specialists on HIV/ (No. 200). AIDS and legal protection for people living This international labour standard recalls the with HIV was conducted in Dushanbe. need for member-states to involve actors of The chairman of the Council of Justice of different sectors, including law enforcers, the Republic of Tajikistan, Zafar Azizov, said armed forces and judicial offi cials into the de- in his opening remarks that “the event was velopment of a national HIV/ AIDS response targeted at ensuring that law enforcement and in order to strengthen the quality-based social judicial system employees are well-informed and legal support to people living with HIV on HIV/AIDS and could use their knowledge and families affected by HIV and to reduce when making decisions at the workplaces and stigma and discrimination, she said. Source:www.gazeta.mecina.ru in courtrooms”. Participants developed a set of follow-up rec- The event brought together representatives of tor-General’s Offi ce, courts of Dushanbe, the ommendations as a part of the action plan to the Ministry of Health, the Republican AIDS Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province, implement the HIV/AIDS Concept Paper at Center, the Ministry of Justice, the Prosecu- the Sugd and Khatlon regions and the Regions the workplaces. ■ 3 Newsletter #4(51) December 2012

Trainings on HIV/AIDS at workplace

While a declining of agricultural, mining, railway, healthcare, trend was reported oil and gas workers and seafarers, the Federal in the number of Labour and Employment Service and the HIV diagnosis all St. Petersburg and Leningrad region labour over the world, the inspection. Russian Federation Maria Grinnik, a representative of the Federa- continues to remain one of a few countries, which tion of Independent Trade Unions of Russia annually registers a sharp increase in the infec- in the North-Western Federal District, noted that “Russia’s trade unions have a vast poten- tion. According to the Federal AIDS Centre, as tial that should be tapped for awareness raising of November 1, 2012, 703,781 cases have been campaigns on HIV/AIDS at the workplace.” registered since the fi rst cases of human immuno- “It is important together with the Ministry defi ciency virus were reported in Russia, of them of Labour and Social Protection to develop a 106,478 people have already died. special programme taking into account inter- The conference on the legal regulation of ests of workers from different corners of the The recent statistics refl ect a shift of the infection labour relations amid modernization of country,” she said. to the middle aged group, predominantly people economies took place at the National Research between 30 to 40 years, and a sharp rise in Role games helped participants to learn about University “Higher School of Economics” in sexually transmitted cases (42 percent among the problems that trade union leaders and AIDS Moscow. centres’ representatives may face while pro- new HIV cases in 2011). One man in fi fty aged The topic of the student’s report was chosen between 30 to 34 years is HIV-infected. The posing employers to launch awareness raising campaigns at the workplace. not accidentally, her research tutor, senior HIV prevalence rate in Russia’s Irkutsk, Sa- lecturer at the Labour Law Department of mara, Sverdlovsk and Leningrad regions exceeds the Academy of Labour and Social Relations, 1 percent. Natalia Petrova, participated in the ILO’s Russian chief sanitary doctor Gennady Onish- training on HIV/AIDS and the world of work chenko emphasized that “the shift of the HIV last April. infection to the senior age groups, which were not Yekaterina says her report caused active dis- targeted by prevention programmes, demonstrate cussion among the conference’s delegates. a strong need for developing a methodology and “The statistics I had cited and the analysis of expanding preventive programmes at the work- judicial practice made young men and women place.” to think of diffi culties HIV-infected people The ILO Recommendation concerning HIV and are facing at their workplace,” she said. ■ AIDS and the World of Work, 2010 (No. 200) contains provisions saying there should not be discrimination against job seekers and job ap- Azerbaijan: plicants on the grounds of real or perceived HIV HIV/AIDS prevention status. These provisions are also refl ected in the Participants in the seminar created a symbolic Russian legislation. red ribbon to show solidarity with workers at workplace living with HIV On November On November 27-30 a training on the imple- On December 4-6 the ILO Moscow together 2 Baku hosted a mentation of programmes on HIV/AIDS and with the Trade Union Movement Institute of seminar to discuss the world of work took place in St. Peters- the Academy of Labour and Social Relations an HIV/AIDS burg. The training was organized by the ILO held a training of trainers for trade union edu- workplace strategy Moscow at the request of the Russian Union cation centres. paper based on the of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs and the ILO Recommendation concerning HIV and The training focused on prevention of AIDS and the World of Work, 2010 (No. 200). Federation of Independent Trade Unions of HIV/AIDS at the workplace and of discrimi- Russia to train HIV focal points for employ- nation against HIV-infected workers. The seminar was organized by Azerbaijan’s ers’ and workers’ unions. The event brought together specialists from Ministry of Labour and Social Protection The training gathered representatives of the trade union education centres of Yekaterin- in cooperation with the International La- National Tripartite Expert Group on HIV/ burg, Kazan, Lipetsk, Samara, Chelyabinsk, bour Organization and brought together AIDS and the World of Work, regional unions Moscow and the Moscow region as well as social partners and experts of international representatives of the Seafarers Union of Rus- organizations. Maria Grinnik: sia and the Kaluga region AIDS Prevention Participants emphasized that the HIV/AIDS Centre. workplace programmes need to be main- “Russia’s trade unions Leading specialists of the Trade Union Move- streamed in relevant state programmes and have a vast potential that ment Institute facilitated the training. documents. should be tapped for On December 4, Yekaterina Gneusheva, a For instance, the Tripartite Collective Agree- student of the Academy of Labour and Social ment stipulates social partners’ responsibility awareness raising cam- Relations, made a report focusing on discrimi- to strengthen public control over protection paigns on HIV/AIDS at nation of HIV-infected workers at the sixth of the population’s health and to enhance interacademic research conference of students social protection of people suffering from the workplace.” and young scientists. HIV/AIDS and other chronic diseases. ■ 4 ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team and Country Offi ce for Eastern Europe and Central Asia

Gender aspects of combining work and family responsibilities Gender aspects of ILO Moscow Senior Social Security Specialist combining work Mariko Ouchi emphasized that “the Inter- and family respon- national Labour Organization takes efforts sibilities was in the to support the institution of family for every focus of a tripartite person to be able to safely combine wor