Press Release

Public Discussion:

Advancing the Inspection Mechanism for Labor Conditions and Safety

November 2, 10:00 a.m.
Hotel Tbilisi Mercure, 9, V. Gorgasali Street
On November 2, the East-West Management Institute (EWMI), in the frameworks of the ACCESS project, is
organizing policy forum on Advancing the Inspection Mechanism for Labor Conditions and Safety. Purpose of the forum is
to bring together representatives of Georgian government, CSOs, labor and business unions and the donor
community to discuss existing problems and challenges with regards to labor conditions and safety in Georgia, and
engage stakeholders in a constructive policy dialogue over the ways of creating effective mechanisms to tackle the
problems.
In February 2015, in an attempt to meet Georgias commitments under the EU-Georgia Association Agreement
(AA) and Visa-Liberalization Action Plan (VLAP), the Government of Georgia launched the State Monitoring
Program for Labor Protection. In March, 2015, under the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs the Labor
Inspection Department was established with the mandate to issue compliance recommendations.
Tbilisi-based CSO Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC), with the support of EWMI ACCESS is
currently conducting a research to evaluate effectiveness of the new state program and the Labor Inspection
Department. EMC is also studying international best practices around the topic. Preliminary results of the research
will be presented at the discussion.
Program Outline
10:00-10:10 Tamar Karosanidze, Chief of Party, ACCESS
Introductory remarks
10:10-10:30 Elza Jgerenaia, Head of Labor and Employment Policy Department, the Ministry of Labor, Health and
Social Affairs
The Labor Inspection Department: its functions and future plans
10:30-10:50 Ms. Lina Ghvinianidze Project Coordinator, Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC)
Labor conditions & safety challenges in Georgia, preliminary observations on Labor
Inspection Department & EMC project activities
10:50-11:10 Mr. Zsolt Dudas Chief Technical Adviser, International Labor Organization (ILO)
Improved compliance through labor inspection current state and the way forward an
ILO perspective
11:10-11:30 Mr. Irakli Petriashvili Chairman, Georgian Trade Unions Confederation (GTUC)
A GTUC perspective
11:30-13:00 Discussion

Advancing CSO Capacities and Engaging Society for Sustainability (ACCESS) is a five-year, $5.5 million USD civil society
development initiative funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by the
East-West Management Institute (EWMI).