Conference: The Future of Labour Inspection in Georgia

The goal of the conference was to create a space for high-ranking politicians, representatives of legislative and executive authorities, social partners and experts, where it would be possible to discuss the challenges in the labour policy, as well as the necessity and importance of effective inspection of labour conditions.

At the opening of the conference, President Giorgi Margvelashvili spoke about the difficult situation of labour rights and labour safety in the country. He pointed out that the state does not control labour rights and that they are regulated by the market. However, not only the state, but each of us should care for people and the employers must be ready to care for it too. Relations between employers and employees, as well as mutual profitable balance in this process, should be somewhat regulated the labour inspectorate.

Public Defender Ucha Nanuashvili said that since 2013, he had been demanding in his reports, at various levels and in various forms, establishment of effective service for regulation of labour rights. His recommendations are the same from year to year, but nothing has been changed in this direction. The only thing changed is that from 2011 to 2016, more than 270 people were killed and 776 were injured during the working process. And unfortunately, this is a problem of only the families of the dead and the injured. Labour inspectorate is not a panacea and it will not be able to eliminate all problems, but it should have the authority to effectively and independently monitor private companies, as well as the situation of labour rights and relations there, without any hindrance.

"Today we are launching a special campaign for the protection of labour rights and it will be one of the main directions in our activities. The state should create a system that will protect human life and I hope that the Government has a political will to take real steps," said the Public Defender.