ISSN 1811-1351 # 3(46) SEPTEMBER 2011

Innovation economy and labour market: conference in

“The Russian Federation got out of the Xirinachs, ILO Executive Director ployment policy should comply with the crisis and we expect the economic growth (Employment Sector). “However, despite country’s announced transition to innovative rates next year to be no lower than those this positive trends the country registers the de- development. First of all, this concerns the year,” Russian Deputy Health and Social cent work deficit, the employment growth is improvement of the workforce potential and Development Minister Maxim Topilin said created though low-quality jobs, the number effectiveness of tapping it. We need effec- in his opening remarks to the conference on of atypical labour contracts is on the rise and tive and innovative jobs.” Employment and Labour Market Strategies wide regional disparities remain.” in in the Context of Innovation Jose Salazar-Xirinachs welcomed the Economy. development of a draft state employment The Conference took place in Moscow programme for 2011-2015. Following the on September 15 and was organized by the programme’s development the International Russian Health and Social Development Labour Organization recommended Russian Ministry and the International Labour Or- partners to further focus on the industry- ganization. oriented approach and the industrial devel- opment policy, to actively implement the The Conference heard the address by anti-crisis programme for single-industry Alexander Zhukov, Deputy Chairman of the cities, to support businesses, especially Government of the Russian Federation, who small and medium-sized enterprises, to expressed his strong confidence that the strengthen the role of social partners and to Moscow forum would contribute, both in further promote gender equality. substance and practice, to further promoting in Russia the ILO's Decent Work Agenda. The Executive Vice-President of the In his address to the Conference Jose Manuel Russian Union of Industrialists and Entre- Amid the crisis the country managed to Salazar-Xirinachs gave a detailed analysis of the preneurs, Fyodor Prokopov, named the slow situation on the Russian and international avoid serious downfalls on the labour mar- pace of new jobs creation and the growth of labour markets. ket. Moreover, unlike other countries Rus- informal employment as the main problems sia’s government implemented in full all for Russia’s labour market. The economic The Conference continued its work in social programmes, Topilin said. growth without jobs creation is a serious risk several sections. Delegates discussed the However, certain risks in the labour factor, he said. issues of coordinating the employment pol- sector pertain. Thus, according to the fore- “The state employment policy should be icy and the tasks for ensuring economic casts, in 10 years the number of the coun- targeted not only at the creation of jobs for growth; the role of internal and external try’s labour resources will shrink, therefore those unemployed,” the chairman of the migration on the labour market; human re- it is necessary to maximally engage all exist- Federation of Independent Trade Unions of sources competitiveness in the innovation ing resources and take further efforts to pro- Russia, Mikhail Shmakov, said. “The em- economy; and employment assistance meas- vide assistance with em- ures for citizens facing ploying different categories difficulties on the labour of citizens. market. In this respect Topilin The Moscow meeting especially pointed to the was an important step in new comprehensive pro- the preparation for an gramme Accessible Envi- international high-level ronment that for the first conference in Russia next time applies a comprehen- autumn focusing on the sive approach targeted at implementation of the the creation of jobs for ILO’s Decent Work disabled persons instead of Agenda. Russian Prime using a quota system for Minister Vladimir Putin this category of workers. offered to host this forum “After the economic in his address to the 100th downturn Russia has been session of the Interna- witnessing a recovery,” tional Labour Conference said Jose Manuel Salazar- in Geneva last June.■

ILO Director-General Role of multinational companies announces early departure in promoting decent work The Director-General of the ILO, Multinational companies have a positive federation of Trade Unions of Azerbaijan and Juan Somavia, announced that he will experience of ensuring decent working condi- the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs bring forward the date of his departure tions in Azerbaijan, said participants in the (Employers) as well as the dialogue between from his post to the second half of 2012 conference on the role of multinational employers and workers take on a significant due to strong personal reasons that re- companies in promoting decent work at the role in making concrete steps in this direc- quire him to be closer to his family. national level that took place at Azerbaijan’s tion.” Labour and Social Protection Ministry on “Multinational companies have consider- Somavia’s third term as Director September 29. able weight in Azerbaijan’s economy, sup- General was due to last until March The conference’s goal was to discuss the port different humanitarian projects and have 2014. creation of better working conditions for positive experience of promoting decent The Chilean Somavia is the first rep- every worker in Azerbaijan, including work- work,” Fizuli Alakbarov said. resentative from a developing country to ers of multinational companies. The confer- The minister underlined that along with head the ILO. He gave life to the concept ence also focused on cases of violation of the this some of these companies have not yet of “decent work”, and placed it at the republic’s labour legislation by some multi- created trade unions, not formulated social heart of the ILO’s agenda. Since then, national companies. partnership principles and not taken measures the ILO and its policy recommendations Ahead of the conference Azerbaijan’s to ensure professional advancement of local have been getting increasing political Labour and Social Protection Minister Fizuli workers. Moreover, multinational companies Alakbarov received the ILO delegation. Ri- employ foreign workforce, while the local support. carda McFalls, Chief of the ILO Multina- market provides skillful personnel as well, Between now and next September, tional Enterprises Programme, and Kamran and foreign workers are paid much higher Somavia will lead the work of the Inter- Fannizadeh, Director of the Programme on wages than local ones. national Labour Organization towards its Promoting the ILO Declaration of Fundamen- “To eliminate these factors it is necessary regional conferences in Africa and Asia, tal Principles and Rights at Work, specially to steadily build and maintain a dialogue with and take part in the G20 summit in No- arrived in Baku to take part in the conference. multinational companies through social part- vember. Fizuli Alakbarov noted that one of the nership principles,” he said. government’s priorities is to provide jobs for Ricarda McFalls praised Azerbaijan’s He will lead too the preparations for the republic’s citizens and over the past seven decent work promoting efforts and coopera- the ILO’s international conference next years Azerbaijan has created over 900,000 tion with the ILO in this area. June which will focus on youth employ- new jobs. She expressed confidence that the confer- ment, social protection and workers’ “A new target for Azerbaijan that moves ence would play an important role to actively rights in the context of the global eco- along a path of modern development is quali- involve multinational companies in promot- nomic crisis. Somavia will also push for tative improvement of the existing labour ing decent work at the national level, while action on the Global Jobs Pact launched force potential in accordance with economic the ILO would provide comprehensive sup- by the ILO in 2009 in response to the progress and decent work promotion,” the port in this issue.■ crisis. ■ minister said. “Cooperation between the Con- Source: www.1news.az, www.trend.az

New occupational safety and health definitions in Russia’s Labour Code On July 18, Russian President Dmitry Russia has already ratified the ILO Con- Medvedev signed into law the modern defi- ventions No. 155 and No. 187, while many nition of occupational risk, the occupational enterprises in Russian regions have been risk assessment and management system. actively introducing occupational safety and The ILO Moscow team has been health management systems ILO-OSH 2001 promoting these amendments through the (GOST 12.0.230 – 2007). ILO Occupational Safety and Health Con- At present, the ILO Moscow Office has vention, 1981 (No.155), Promotional Frame- been implementing the project on develop- work for Occupational Safety and Health ing and implementing occupational safety Convention, 2006 (No. 187) and the Guide- and health (OSH) system in North-West lines on occupational safety and health man- region of the Russian Federation to provide agement systems, ILO-OSH 2001 for sev- decent and safe work and on Occupational eral years. Safety and Health in – Preven- “This means that the practical imple- tion at Work, Protection for Life.■ mentation of the ILO approach to preventive “We have already received many requests risk management* will start in Russia in- for holding risk assessment trainings.” stead of risk assessment aimed at providing The ILO expert expressed the hope that *Occupational risk management is a personal protective equipment, hazard pay “this change in the Russian Labour Code is complex of interrelated measures, which and milk,” said Wiking Husberg, Senior likely to lead to corresponding changes in includes identification, assessment and de- OSH Specialist of the ILO Moscow Office. the other CIS countries.” crease of the level of occupational risks

Newsletter №3 (46), Page 2

ILO warns of G20 labour Russian employers study experience market decline in 2012 of German employers’ associations and jobs shortfall by 2015

Executive Vice-President of the Russian The meeting in Paris on September Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, 26-27 brought together the Labour Min- Fyodor Prokopov, noted that such format of isters of G20 countries to discuss the cooperation is useful and important for the promotion of full employment, quality two countries’ social partners. jobs and the respect for fundamental At the end of September and in October rights and principles at work, and better delegates from the Russian Union of Indus- policy coherence at the multilateral trialists and Entrepreneurs will take part in level. two practical seminars in Germany to study Russia was represented by Deputy the structure, aims and methods of employ- Health and Social Development Minister ers’ associations of Mecklenburg-Western Maxim Topilin. Pomerania. The International Labour Organiza- Representatives of the Russian Union of tion in a joint study prepared with the On August 31, Moscow hosted a seminar Employers and Entrepreneurs plan to apply Organization for Economic Cooperation that brought together Russian and German German partners’ experience in activities of and Development at the request of the employers within the framework of the joint employers’ associations in Russia. They will G20 for its labour ministerial meeting programme implemented by the Russian exchange knowledge in the legislative regu- warns of major G20 labour market de- Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs lation of employers’ associations, in collec- cline in 2012 and serious jobs shortfall and German Employers’ Association Nord- tive bargaining and social dialogue and will by 2015. metall with the financial and technical sup- discuss modernization of Russia’s labour law In his address to the ministers ILO port of the ILO Bureau for Employers’ Ac- and legislation regulating activities of em- Director-General Juan Somavia under- tivities (ACT/EMP). ployers’ associations. lined that “we need investments to grow Participants discussed social policy, so- At the end of November the results of enterprises in the real economy and to cial partnership system, labour law, social two practical seminars will be evaluated in generate decent work”, while “employ- security law as well as the issues related to Moscow.■ ment creation has to become a top mac- policies used on Germany’s labour market. Source: http://рспп.рф/ roeconomic priority.”■

ILO international labour standards in Russia

Draft law to ratify ILO Prevention for major hazard installations,” the director Under the Convention, the uninterrupted of Major Industrial Accidents Con- said. part of the annual holiday with pay (one of vention submitted to government Zharova noted that the annual financial the parts shall consist of at least two uninter- damage from technogenic accidents, liquida- rupted working weeks) shall be granted and On July 25, Russia’s Health and Social tion of these accidents and their conse- taken no later than one year, the remainder of Development Ministry submitted to the gov- quences is estimated at dozens of million of the annual holiday with pay no later than ernment a draft law to ratify the ILO Preven- roubles. eighteen months, from the end of the year in tion of Major Industrial Accidents Conven- respect of which the holiday entitlement has tion, 1993 (No 174). “A considerable share of these expendi- tures falls on accidents at major hazard in- arisen. The purpose of this Convention is the stallations,” she said.■ The unused holidays accumulated before prevention of major accidents involving haz- Source: www.minzdravsoc.ru the above-mentioned Convention entered ardous substances and the limitation of the into force remain uncancelled. consequences of such accidents. This Con- According to Article 126 of the Russian vention applies to major hazard installations. ILO Holidays with Pay Convention Labour Code, the part of the holiday exceed- “The problems of ensuring industrial enters into force in Russia ing 28 calendar days may be replaced with safety are linked with productive activities of money compensation on employee’s written workers and organizations and have a con- On September 6, the ILO Holidays with application. siderable impact on the results of their Pay Convention (Revised), 1970 (No 132) work,” said Natalia Zharova, the director of ratified by the Russian Federation on July 1, It is not allowed to replace the holiday the Ministry’s department on wages, occupa- 2010, entered into force. with money compensation to expectant tional safety and social partnership. The Convention does not run counter to mothers and employees under eighteen years Each Member ratifying this Convention the provisions of the Russian Labour Code. old, as well as to employees involved in hard shall implement a coherent national policy No changes were made to the Labour Code’s work and work with harmful and (or) dan- concerning the protection of workers, the articles concerning annual holidays with pay gerous labour conditions (except for dismiss- public and the environment against the risk for the ILO Convention to enter into force. als, when the employee is paid money com- pensation for all the unused holidays).■ of major accidents. The duration of the main annual holiday “This policy shall be implemented with pay granted to employees remains 28 through preventive and protective measures calendar days. Source: www.vladtime.ru

Newsletter №3(46), Page 3

Promoting social dialogue in Armenia

On July 7, Yerevan hosted a tripartite good social dialogue practice. the ILO assessment mission and the lessons seminar on National Tripartite Social Dia- Taking part in the seminar were represen- learned from the study visit to Lithuania to logue in Armenia: Towards a New Start. It tatives of the government (Ministries of La- improve the functioning of the Republican discussed the conclusions of the ILO fact bour and Justice), the National Assembly and Tripartite Commission (RTC) and the legal finding mission to Armenia last February. social partners. basis for collective bargaining. The mission was carried out by ILO Con- Ara Petrosyan, First Deputy Minister of Youcef Ghellab and Senior International sultant Slava Egorov and Senior Social Dia- Labour and Social Issues, opened the event Labour Standards Specialist (ILO Moscow) logue Specialist Youcef Ghellab (ILO Ge- and thanked the ILO for its support and un- Alain Pelce contributed presentations on the neva). derlined the government’s intention to take European practices of a tripartite social dia- The mission undertook a detailed review into consideration the conclusions of the logue and on Tripartite Consultation of the legal and institutional framework for seminar to enhance the social dialogue (International Labour Standards) Convention, social dialogue and collective bargaining in framework. 1976 (No. 144). Armenia. Youcef Ghellab listed the activities to In September selected social partners from The seminar was preceded by a study promote social dialogue undertaken so far Armenia will visit the ILO International Train- visit of Armenia’s tripartite delegation to and encouraged tripartite constituents to take ing Centre in Turin to undergo training on Lithuania on June 20-23 to get exposed to a up the conclusions and recommendations of collective bargaining and dispute resolution.■

Vacancy database to be created in ILO, Red Cross organize trainings on business ABCs for jobless in southern Kyrgyzstan On July 29, the State Secretary of Kyr- own business. This decision was exclusively gyzstan’s Ministry of Labour, Employment based on criteria of economic vulnerability and Migration, Tanychbek Tabyldiyev, met of grant recipients who lost the source of with experts of the ILO and the German income as a result of events in June 2010. Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) “We sincerely hope that such support to discuss opportunities for creating a data- will give these people confidence in the fu- base of jobs available on Kyrgyzstan’s la- ture and will help to create new jobs,” said bour market. the head of the ICRC economic security According to the ministry’s press service, department in southern Kyrgyzstan, Aslan as of July 1, the number of officially regis- Tukuzhev. tered unemployed in Kyrgyzstan totaled 65,100, down by 2 percent as against the “To start my own business I had not same period of last year. enough knowledge in accounting and cost For several months men and women in calculation. Now thanks to this programme I The project’s implementation and further am sure that I will apply my knowledge in operation of the database requires personnel Kyrgyzstan’s Osh and Jalal-Abad regions who lost their jobs as a result of riots in practice. I plan to open a sewing mini-room training that will be provided by the GIZ and and use grant funds for buying four sewing the ILO. southern Kyrgyzstan in June 2010, have been attending trainings on business planning and machines. This will also help to create new The Ministry of Labour, Employment management. jobs,” said Ainuska, one of the programme’s and Migration is preparing technical specifi- trainees. cations that will be soon submitted for part- The two-day trainings were organized “Earlier I had my own business, I baked ners’ consideration. with the financial support of the International Committee of the Red Cross microeconomic and sold lepeshkas (traditional home-made Moreover, specialists of the Ministry of bread). However, only after this training I Labour, Employment and Migration and the initiatives and within the framework of the ILO programme “Start Your Business”. began to realize that I did not have market- two organizations make necessary calcula- ing skills and did not know my clients’ de- tions of the project’s costs to finalize coop- As result of the four-month project, over mands, often relying on my intuition instead. eration parameters. 700 trainees in the town of Osh and the vil- From now on I will do my business with The creation of a vacancy database was lage of Bazar-Korgon in the Jalal-Abad re- more competence and responsibility,” said also discussed in Moscow in July at the gion received SYB certificates. Suleiman Abdullazhonov. meeting of the Ministry’s delegation led by A group of highly skilled trainers and Tanychbek Tabyldiyev with the Director of Thus, the micro-project support pro- master trainers conducted the trainings. gramme through joint efforts of the ILO and the ILO DWT and Country Office for Eastern and Central Asia, Evgueni Davydov.■ The ICRC studied business plans submit- the ICRC makes its contribution to the socio- ted by potential aid recipients and after this economic development and strengthening Source: www.mz.kg decided on issuing a grant for starting one’s stability in southern Kyrgyzstan.■

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Kazakhstan’s government adopts employment programme until 2020 In July ’s government adopted grammes workers will be attracted to undergo of view of involvement of this group of popu- the employment programme until 2020. on-demand vocation trainings. lation. Regional trade unions have already Decent employment is the basis of social ILO National Coordinator in Kazakhstan, been working under the employment pro- welfare, an important precondition for the Talgat Umirzhanov: gramme. Heads of these trade unions chair development and realization of human re- commissions and working groups on the pro- - Capacity building of local employment gramme’s onsite implementation. They practi- sources’ potential and the main means of social service officials is principally important for wealth growth and better living standards. cally have already compiled the list of voca- tions workers will be trained on and have The programme’s main target is to been directly cooperating with enter- increase population incomes through pro- prises that will train and employ job viding assistance for stable and produc- seekers. tive employment and creating jobs for self -employed, unemployed and low-income The microcrediting programme is population. mainly targeted at rural residents and the youth. Although the sum of microcredits Kazakh Labour and Social Protection is not high – up to 3 million tenge, it can Minister Gulshara Abdykalikova noted help all those who would like to open that by 2015 the programme will encom- greenhouse facilities, start growing fruit pass 1.5 million people, while the poverty and vegetables or start sewing. rate will decrease by 6 percent and the unemployment rate will not exceed 5.5 Bolat Tatibekov, ILO national con- percent. sultant, doctor of economics, professor: “The funds will be injected into train- - Unlike other medium-term pro- ing, employment and self-employment of grammes that mainly resolved the current them to be able to assess possibilities and problems, this one is conceptually developed jobless and low-income citizens,” the minister needs of every applicant and propose an indi- said. and strategically oriented. It will influence vidual plan and guidelines. This should be- employment and increase flexibility of the Earlier, the employment roadmap engaged come an integral part of the programme’s republic’s labour market and human resources urban population groups, now it will reach implementation and will require better opera- mobility. It will allow to resolve many prob- rural residents as well. tion of the state employment service and pro- lems of self-employed population and engage The second target announced in the pro- fessional training of its employees. it in large-scale projects not only at the re- gramme is microcrediting. For this purpose 3 Gulnara Zhumageldiyeva, deputy chair- gional, but also republican level. million tenge (one dollar is approximately person of the Federation of Trade Unions of The programme takes into consideration equal to 147 tenge) are allocated from the Kazakhstan: our country’s specifics as a unitary state with budget. - Today the self-employed population a vast territory and resolves the issue of inter- The third target is labour resources mobil- makes up around 2.7 million. The 2020 em- nal labour migration on the national labour ity. Under the industrial development pro- ployment programme is good from the point market. ■ Source: : www.sim.kz

Russian Federation: Regional experience of HIV/AIDS prevention Kaluga HIV/AIDS centre introduces new prevention measures

and youth labour exchange holds weekly actions. group trainings, lectures and discussions on The expert on HIV/AIDS prevention HIV prevention for unemployed persons, underlined that beginning from July the la- young men and women and future entrepre- bour exchange has requested young men and neurs. women to fill in questionnaires to inform “The use of new platforms for preventive about their HIV/AIDS awareness, health and activities is the follow-up of work launched their inclination to risky behavioral practices. within the framework of the ILO project on In the future the centre plans to establish HIV/AIDS and the World of Work imple- partnership relations with the regional minis- mented by the Kaluga centre for HIV/AIDS try of labour and to take preventive actions prevention in 2010,” she said. for migrants. Prevention trainings for the youth are Russia’s Kaluga region located 150 kilo- The Kaluga centre for HIV/AIDS pre- conducted in educational institutions. meters southwest of Moscow registers an vention began to introduce new preventive Young men and women engaged in small average rate of the spread of the HIV- measures. businesses as well as jobless persons practi- infection. The region’s HIV prevalence rate According to the head of the centre’s cally do not take part in prevention pro- is 160 per 1,000 people, almost two times methodology department, Irina Chernova, grammes, therefore the employment centre lower than that on the average in Russia.■ the Kaluga centre for HIV/AIDS prevention and the youth labour exchange can provide a in partnership with the employment centre good platform for conducting preventive Source: www.asi.org.ru

Newsletter №3 (46), Page 5

Organizing informal workers: trade union subregional meeting in Tbilisi A subregional meeting of leaders of un- ence the Pan-European Regional Council of programmes emphasize the need to reduce ions of workers engaged into informal labour the International Trade Union Confederation informal employment and to protect interests relations was organized by the Pan-European accumulated in the work on informal em- of those engaged in it. Regional Council of the International Trade ployment. Svetlana Boincean, regional representa- Union Confederation (ITUC-PERC), the ILO Sergejus Glovackas, Senior Specialist in tive of the International Union of Food, Agri- Bureau for Workers’ Activities (ILO- Workers’ Activities of the ILO Office, in- cultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, To- ACTRAV) and the StreetNet in Tbilisi on formed about different organizing practices bacco and Allied Workers Associations July 11-13. existing in the region. He also introduced the (IUF), presented successes and challenges of The meeting’s goal was to exchange ILO conventions, which particularly can be organizing workers of agricultural sector in unions’ experiences in dealing with these used by the unions in protecting interests of Central Asia, particularly in South Kazakh- workers, to analyse challenges of organizing these workers. stan, where most migrants are working in them and to debate issues of sustainability of mostly informal environment. the workers’ organizations. Bettina Musiolek informed the partici- Some 30 participants took part in the pants about targeted campaigning the Clean meeting, from different economic sectors – Cloth Campaign is running to get workers street and market vending, taxi and shuttle rights respected in the textile sector, directed minibus driving, textile and sewing industry, on giants of sports and industry to commerce and services. make them consider and act on the abuses According to some preliminary estima- that exist in their subcontracting and supply- tion, only 200,000 workers engaged into ing chains. informal labour relations are organized in the In discussion participants brainstormed a NIS region, however, their overall share in set of recommendations that include, inter these occupations might equal half of the alia: organization of tripartite seminars in the entire workforce in certain countries. countries on informal employment; inclusion The meeting was opened by Irakli Petri- of informal economy challenges into the ILO ashvili, President of the Georgian Trade Un- Decent Work Country Programmes; cam- ion Confederation. paigning to get the related ILO Convention ratified by the countries, particularly the Pat Horn, StreetNet coordinator, pre- Domestic Workers Convention, 2011 (No. sented the mission and the history of her 189); publishing and dissemination training organization, which was set up in 2002 and and practical informational materials in the now unifies some 38 organizations of unions , organizing specific collec- and associations of street vendors and market tive bargaining trainings for the leaders of workers around the world. By building ca- the organizations of workers engaged in pacities of leaders of these organizations the informal relations.■ StreetNet empowers their capacities to col- He referred to the newly adopted ILO lectively bargain with employers or munici- Convention on Domestic Workers and intro- palities and landlords. duced the Decent Work Country Pro- More information see at http://perc.ituc- Anton Leppik summarized the experi- grammes implemented in the region. The csi.org/spip.php?article613

Modern occupational health and safety management in mining industry The International Federation of Chemi- responsible for workers’ safety and health. tral topic. The ILO Occupational Safety and cal, Energy, Mine and General Workers' The seminar was attended by the ICEM Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155) and Pro- Unions (ICEM) conducted a seminar entitled Representative for Central and Eastern motional Framework for Occupational Safety “Modern Occupational Health and Safety Europe, Anatoly Surin, and ICEM Health, and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187) and Management in the Mining Industry,” in Safety, Sustainability Officer, Brian Kohler. their related Recommendations were also Tbilisi, Georgia, on 4-8 July. The seminar From the ILO, Wiking Husberg, Senior Oc- studied by participants. was facilitated with the financial support of cupational Safety and Health Specialist, and In-depth discussions were conducted the ILO through its Moscow office, and in- Oxana Gerasimova, Subregional Occupa- over the systematic and preventive approach cluded the participation of ILO specialists. tional Safety and Health Coordinator of ILO of the ILO, particularly in the mining indus- Representatives of ICEM affiliates in Moscow, and Martin Hahn, ILO Geneva try, and risk assessment and the implementa- Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, as well as mine safety expert, took part. tion of state standards for enterprises were respective national trade union centres, were ILO Safety and Health in Mines Conven- analysed.■ brought together with trade union leaders tion, 1995 (No.176) was the seminar’s cen- Source: http://www.icem.org/

Newsletter №3 (46), Page 6

Migrant information centers to be opened in Sochi and Vladivostok

The Federation of Independent Trade vostok to hold a seminar on protection of Unions of Russia will create two migrant migrants’ rights. information and consultation centers in Sochi “It is necessary to help labour migrants to and Vladivostok, where large-scale construc- integrate into a new environment for them to tion is underway to employ dozens of thou- have not only rights, but also obligations,” he sands of migrants from over 30 countries. said. “In many respects, this is the trade un- The International Labour Organization ions’ task. We already have such examples – will help the centre’s activities. the construction workers’ union of the Pri- According to the Far Eastern directorate morsky Territory received applications from of the Russian Regional Development Minis- migrants who wanted to join. Chinese work- try, the construction projects in the run up to ers joined the agricultural workers’ union at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation sum- one of agricultural enterprises of the Oktyabr- mit in Vladivostok in 2012 employ over sky district.” 28,000 people, 25 percent of them are foreign Sandra Vermuijten, Chief Technical Ad- At the meeting with Chinese migrants employed at APEC-2012 construction sites workers, whose number is on the rise. viser of the ILO Moscow Office migration The Primorsky Territory department of project, believes that migrants’ socialization “There are plans to open “hot lines” on the Russian Federal Migration Service cited in Russia can be ensured only through their the basis of these centers and it is expedient statistics showing that in the first six months protection and the creation of decent working to attract representatives of national commu- of the year the number of migrants from the conditions. nities, first of all, to avoid language barriers. CIS member-states, mainly , “Social dumping is a general problem This concerns not only Chinese workers, but reached 44,500, up by 82 percent as against related to the informal economy, both for also migrants from Central Asia, who not the same period of last year. Russian and migrants. Raising standards in always speak Russian,” Sergejus Glovackas “We’ve arrived in the Far East not coinci- terms of safety, salaries and working condi- said noting that these centers will work even dentally. We’ve got signals on the violation tions is a priority and key element for the after the construction projects are completed. of migrants’ rights – employment without socialization of migrant workers and the atti- Such centres will also appear in Sochi, labour contracts, forced labour and signs of tude towards them in society,” she said. where the preparation for the 2014 Winter human trafficking,” said Sergejus Glovackas, The ILO expressed readiness to provide Olympic Games gathers pace.■ Senior Specialist in Workers’ Activities of technical and methodological assistance and the ILO Moscow Office, who visited Vladi- train specialists for the centers. Source:http://kadozor.ru/

Kyrgyzstan’s trade unions hasten to protect informal workers’ rights

According to the Federation of Trade Damira is a medical doctor by profession, Unions of Kyrgyzstan, around 70 percent of but to survive and keep her family she had to the country’s able-bodied population is em- change her favourite work for market vending. ployed in the informal sector. Informal econ- She became an active trade union member. omy is a huge challenge for successful socio- “Many years’ experience of the trade economic development of Kyrgyzstan. A union’s activity in the market proved that large share of the population is engaged in there is no better way of protecting the rights small passenger transportation business, street of informal workers than joining a trade un- and market vending, or work at sewing work- ion,” she said. shops. is one of the largest In 2005-2008 trade unions conducted an wholesale and retail markets on the territory active campaign to protect workers employed of the former . It employs almost in the informal sector and attract them to trade Damira Dolotaliyeva (right) - chair of the trade 60,000 people. For 14 years of its activity the unions. The campaign was targeted at formal- union of Dordoy Bazaar in market’s trade union demonstrated success izing labour relations and representing infor- and earned respect among market vendors. mal workers’ interests through trade unions. chairs of grassroots organizations of informal The market has an effective agreement As a result of the campaign market vendors, workers. At the meeting participants took a with the Bishkek city administration; it pub- taxi and minibus drivers, sewers and small decision to resume a campaign on protection lishes its own newspaper. The trade union farmers joined trade unions. The issues of of informal workers’ rights and interests helped to eradicate child labour on the market informal employment were put on the agenda through trade unions, drafted proposals for territory and reduce corruption among police. of the tripartite commission, the process of formalization of informal labour relations for At the trade union’s initiative several law formalizing labour relations began and pro- a new Decent Work Country Programme and enforcers who took bribes from vendors were posals for social insurance of self-employed developed plans of action for strengthening dismissed from office. Trade unionists pay were drafted. trade unions’ role and promoting social dia- great attention to occupational safety and In July 2011 under the ILO’s support the logue. health. One of the trade union’s latest Federation of Trade Unions of Kyrgyzstan … A year ago Damira Dolotaliyeva was achievements is widening of shopping pas- initiated a working meeting that brought to- elected as chair of the trade union of Dordoy sages to provide access for ambulances when- gether heads of industrial enterprises and Bazaar in Bishkek. ever necessary. ■

Newsletter №3 (46), Page 7

Kyrgyzstan: child labour free zones

The Trade Union of Education and Sci- Child labour monitoring: learning-by-doing ence Workers of Kyrgyzstan with support of the ILO International Programme on the Probably, all participants in a workshop by a variety of the menu that offers over 40 Elimination of Child Labour (ILO-IPEC) on child labour monitoring that took place items. I doubt that she manages to do her launched the project on establishing “child in Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan, on September 12- homework, although she says otherwise. labour free zones” in Moskovskiy and 15, will confirm that this was the most un- When asked, what she would like to do in Ysykatinskiy districts of the in usual seminar they had ever participated in. the future, she said her dream is to become a northern Kyrgyzstan. However, it had a traditional start – presen- lawyer and to continue her studies in Bish- tations by international child labour consult- kek. I do not know whether her dream will Working children in these regions will ant Viorica Stefanescu, who focused on come true, as it’s evident that she works in undergo non-formal education trainings in child labour, methods and means for resolv- such conditions that can be described as the educational organizations. ing this problem and experience accumu- worst forms of child labour.” On August 15-17, teachers, who will lated in Romania, in particular. Vera: “We conducted the monitoring in conduct these trainings, were trained on non- “And now, when you’ve got theory tips, Cholpon-Ata and visited most different formal education schemes. All of them re- we prepared an unusual task for you,” said places – cafes, markets and a car wash. If ceived packages of methodological materials Amina Kurbanova, ILO-IPEC Project Coor- you ask me to formulate my impressions on non-formal education training. dinator in Kyrgyzstan. “We offer you to briefly, I can say that we once again con- The process of establishing child labour travel to the town of Cholpon-Ata to con- vinced ourselves how pressing the problem free zones will engage local authorities, so- duct the child labour monitoring in practice. of child labour is, as for only one hour cial partners, teachers, parents, children, non- You should find child labourers and inter- we’ve met and interviewed ten working governmental organizations and mass media. view them on what kind of work they have children. You would not believe that two of and to what working conditions they are them - boys aged 12 and 14 - work as sellers Moreover, the project aimed at establish- exposed. But be careful, boys and girls in an alcohol beverage store.” ing and piloting a child labour monitoring should not be afraid of you withdrawing “We plan to further develop this interac- system started in three districts of Bishkek, into themselves. This should not be a busi- tive education method that we’d used in the the Issyk-Kul and Chuy regions. The project ness-like survey, this should be an informal Issyk-Kul workshop,” said Amina Kur- is implemented by the public association talk.” banova. “It helps not only to provide theory SBDC Consult with support of the ILO- Being divided into four groups and get- tips, but also to apply them in practice.” ■ IPEC and the Ministry of Social Protection. ting necessary instructions participants ILO-IPEC has been working in Kyr- started their trip to fullfil the task. gyzstan since 2005 to provide technical and Here are some of their impressions: financial assistance to prevent and eliminate Irina: “A girl we met in a road- the worst forms of child labour and imple- side cafe stuck in my memory. ment the ILO Minimum Age Convention, They have a family business: both 1973 (No.138) and Convention on the Worst mother and father work there as Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 well as their two children. A girl (No.182). studies in the tenth form and serves At present, ILO-IPEC has been imple- clients of this cafe, she makes bill menting the third phase of the project Com- calculations, keeps cafe clean and bating Child Labour in Central Asia – Com- orderly and works until the last mitment Becomes Action (PROACT-CAR).■ guest leaves. She works after her school studies and most probably Source: www.akipress.org helps her mother to cook judging

Bashkortostan developing Decent Work Programme

The Ministry of Labour and Social Pro- sentatives of the Republic’s Ministry of La- of Bashkortostan’s priorities is to ensure tection of Russia’s Republic of Bashkor- bour and Social Protection, Federation of decent working conditions. tostan hosted a meeting of the working group Trade Unions, Chamber of Commerce and Participants in the meeting highlighted to discuss a draft document for launching the Industry, Union of Engineering Workers and importance of studying experience of other Decent Work Programme in Bashkortostan the Institute of Social and Political Studies of Russian regions and foreign countries in for 2012-2015. the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of developing similar Decent Work Pro- The document is being developed within Bashkortostan. grammes and of attracting ILO experts for the framework of the ILO Decent Work The republic’s labour and social protec- analyzing the draft document. ■ agenda. tion minister, Lenara Ivanova, stressed the

The discussion brought together repre- need for developing this programme as one Source: www.mtsznrb.ru

Newsletter №3 (46), Page 8 Our publications

All publications of the ILO Office can be found at our website www.ilo.ru

Reconciling Work and Family in try and translated into the Georgian lan- Georgia (in the Georgian language) guage. This brochure was published with the fi- It tells about the family structure, economy nancial support of Finland’s Foreign Minis- and women in Georgia, reviews the labour market and analyses its gender aspects. It focuses on childcare facilities and briefly cites the legislations on protection of workers with family responsibilities and selected articles of the Labour Code.

Employment injury benefits (in the Georgian language) This publication translated into the Geor- gian language gives us statistics of occupa- tional accidents in the CIS countries and Georgia, briefly tells about employment injury benefits, types of employment injury vention, 1952 (No 102) and Employment benefit schemes in the CIS countries. Injury Benefits Convention, 1964 (No 121). It focuses on the ILO Conventions con- It also describes economic incentives for cerning employment injury benefits such as preventive measures, as it is better to prevent Social Security (Minimum Standards) Con- now than pay later!

Appointments ILO at Moscow International Book Fair

On July 30, The International Labour Organization together with other UN sister agencies has taken Gagik Makaryan part in the 24th Moscow International Book Fair for the seventh year running. The book fair was elected as took place in Moscow from September 7 to September 12 and brought together 1,500 edit- president of the ing companies from 57 countries. Republican Union of Employers of The ILO as always placed at the joint exhibition stand of the United Nations in the Armenia. Russian Federation several thousands copies of its publications and brochures on different He graduated issues such as occupa- from Yerevan State tional safety and health, University, depart- migration, elimination of ment of physics. He holds the Doctor of En- child labour, reconcilia- gineering degree. tion of work and family In 1977-1997 he worked as chief engi- responsibilities, preven- neer and deputy director-general of scientific tion of HIV/AIDS at the production company “Transistor”. workplace, the fight From 1997 until now Makaryan has been against human trafficking the executive director of Consulting Fund and forced labour, promo- “HAI Consult.” tion of decent work and In 2002-2011 he served as executive di- gender equality. rector of the Union of Manufacturers and By tradition the UN Businessmen (Employers) of Armenia. publications were dis- Since 2007 he was the executive director seminated free of charge. of the Republican Union of Employers of There were many visitors Armenia. at our stand - over 3,000 Makaryan lectured on quality manage- people, mainly students ment systems at Cavendish University and and teaching staff of French University in Armenia. higher education institutions, visited it during six days of the exhibition. It’s worth noting He is a member of two governmental that both Russian and English language publications were on high demand. councils – the Business Support Council We handed out around 9,000 copies of UN publications, including reports, reviews, (since 2000) and the National Council for magazines, newsletters, posters and reference books. Sustainable Development (since 2008). He is married with three children.■ Welcome to our joint UN stand next year!■

Newsletter №3 (46), Page 9 the two-day Regional Gender Community of ■ Free courses for young entre- In Brief Practice (RGCP) workshop organized by preneurs in Vladikavkaz UNDP in Bratislava, Slovakia, to discuss a ■ ILO Director-General: real econ- What ABCs do you need to joint activity plan between ILO Moscow and know for starting your own omy must take the driver’s seat in UNDP Bratislava on maternity protection. business, how to write a busi- global economy At the meeting it was decided to carry ness plan and how to calculate The Director-General of the International out a joint national study on maternity pro- the cost of a business idea? All Labour Organization, Mr. Juan Somavia, tection in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Taji- these questions can be answered at free one- said the time has come to “place the real kistan and to hold the ILO/UNDP subre- week courses “Start and Improve Your Busi- economy in the driver’s seat of the global gional seminar on maternity protection in ness” for young entrepreneurs in Vladikavkaz. economy, with a financial system at its ser- Central Asia in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, in late vice”. November. The courses are carried out by the Centre Mr. Somavia told members of the Euro- for Entrepreneurial Development, the Busi- ness Development Centre within the frame- pean Parliament during an address in Stras- ■ Stronger social protection of work of the joint ILO, UNDP, UNHCR and bourg that a new mindset was needed to migrants workers create the type of policies that will lead to- FAO project Sustainable Integration and On July 4, Baku hosted an in- wards more efficient patterns of growth and Recovery in North Ossetia-Alania. troductory seminar on bilateral more decent work. Over 1,000 men and women had already social security agreements for He said all these policies must be under- undergone the courses. The courses have no strengthening social protection of migrant pinned by a coherent rules-based interna- age restrictions and anyone who wants to workers. tional system: “Today in the United Nations start business can attend them. It was organized within the framework of system, there are three key policy-making the ILO project “Increasing the Protection Source: www.alaniatv.ru organizations – the World Trade Organiza- of Migrant Workers in the Russian Federa- tion on trade, the International Monetary tion and Enhancing the Development Im- ■ Fund on finance and the International Labour XIX World Congress on Safety pact of Migration in Armenia, Azerbaijan Organization on labour markets. The rules and Health at Work focuses on and Georgia.” and standards developed by each one need to building healthier and safer work- The seminar’s main objective was to be applied in a coherent manner. This is not raise awareness of tripartite constituents and places the case today”. relevant institutions dealing with labour mi- The XIX World Congress on Safety and Health at Work took place in Istanbul, Tur- ■ Information work in Georgia’s gration issues on the basic principles of bilat- key, on September 11-15 with the aim of trade unions eral social security agreements. strengthening global commitment to a cul- On June 28-29, Batumi hosted a ■ Kyrgyzstan’s Labour Ministry ture of safety and health at work amid the workshop entitled “Public rela- awards experts of international ongoing challenges of global economic un- tions and information work in certainty. trade unions” organized for the organizations The five-day meeting brought together Georgian Trade Unions Confederation. On August 26, Kyrgyzstan’s more than 3,000 policy-makers, experts, Trade union activists held a keen discus- Ministry of Labour, Employ- industry and labour leaders from over 100 sion on how to strengthen the trade union ment and Migration awarded countries. The ILO Moscow Office was rep- movement in enterprises with private capital the certificates of honour to most active rep- resented by senior occupational safety and and in organizations and institutions that resentatives of international organizations health specialist Wiking Husberg. experience negative and sometimes hostile operating in the republic and of its regional attitude toward unions. offices. The congress seeks to build on the Seoul Participants in the workshop focused on The Ministry issued awards to the head Declaration on Safety and Health at Work, theoretical aspects of PR-campaigns in trade of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, Ambassador adopted at the Safety and Health Summit unions. Andrew Tesoriere, the chief of the Interna- held on the occasion of the XVIII World Sergejus Glovackas, Senior Specialist in tional Organization for Migration’s Mission Congress in June 2008, just prior to the onset Workers’ Activities of the ILO Office noted in Kyrgyzstan, Zlatko Zigic, and representa- of the global economic and jobs crisis. Par- that the workshop will help the trade union tives of other international organizations and ticipants to the congress also discussed the members and leadership to widen knowledge of its central and regional offices for fruitful latest ILO “Global Trends and Challenges on and experience of information work. cooperation, personal contribution and active Occupational Safety and Health”. participation in developing vocational and The XIX World Congress on Safety and ■ ILO and UNDP pool efforts on technical education policies. Health at Work was co-organized by the maternity protection in Central Our colleague, ILO National Coordinator International Labour Organization and the Asia in Kyrgyzstan Bolotbek Orokov, was among International Social Security Association On June 30, ILO Moscow Senior Social those awarded by the Ministry. (ISSA) in cooperation with the Turkish Min- Security Specialist Mariko Ouchi took part in Source: www.mz.kg istry of Labour and Social Security.

Decent Work Technical Support Team and Country Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia Russia 107031, Moscow, 15 Petrovka st., office 23 Tel.: +7 (495) 933-0810, fax: +7 (495) 933-0820 Web-site: www.ilo.ru E-mail: [email protected]

Editor: Elena Iskandarova This newsletter is distributed free of charge. Circulation: 3500 copies On the issue of distribution please contact: +7 (495) 933-0810 or [email protected]