The initiators of the Labor Code reform held the 4th public meeting with the parties concerned to discuss enforcement of the Labor Code and legal mechanisms of labor inspection activity.

One of the initiators, Dimitri Tskitishvili, the Active Head of Cooperation and at EU Delegation of Georgia, Vincent Rey and the Chief of GIZ Georgia Group, Shalva Papuashvili opened the meeting, which was as well attended by the representatives of the Trade Unions, Business Association, Employers’ Association, Labor Inspection, EU and US Embassies.

According to D. Tskitishvili, reforming of the Labor Code requires effective enforcement by the state. “Any law we develop needs the enforcement mechanism and thus, it requires effective activity of the Labor Inspection instead of remaining the flat paper. It requires due formation of the Labor Inspection to work on the labor safety issues and labor rights. We strive to make Labor Inspection a reliable partner for business and employees and to equip it with the function of consultation and public awareness”, - he noted.

Public consideration of the draft Labor Code is backed by V. Rey as well noting that Georgian legislation shall be approximated to the international standards.

“This discussion is important as it unifies the private sector, Government and law-makers. They jointly discuss how to make Georgian legislation modernized to facilitate to progressive development. We are here to find the better way for Labor Code reforming. Gender, health and safety issues shall be regulated with maximal engagement of the state” – he noted.

The discussion was attended by the Head of the Labor Inspection Department, Beka Peradze, stating that the Labor Inspection is to be formed into the legal entity which is the guarantee of enforcement of the law: “The bill defines the mandate of the labor inspection, enforcement mechanisms and authorities for this institution. Labor Inspection means safety and labor rights and the bill envisages the Labor Inspection to be the legal entity public law with the regional offices to guarantee enforcement of the law. Besides, we aspire to increase the number of the employees”.

Labor Inspection has been annulled in 2006 in Georgia and restored in 2015 with the restricted authority. In February, 2019, the organic law on Labor Safety ensured authority of the Inspection to monitor the labor safety norms in private and public sectors.

According to the changes, LEPL Labor Inspection will be equipped with all the authorities and monitoring mandate. Within the public considerations, sundry thematic meetings have already been held with Business Association, Trade Unions, HR specialists and civil sector. Backed by the ILO, the Parliament of Georgia develops the changes to the law envisaging creation of new legal and institutional mechanisms for labor rights.

The international and donor organizations, including UNDP, GIZ, ILO and UNFPA are engaged in development process.