Workshop in Moldova on Decent Workers’ Rights and Equality

During the week of 23-27 February, 2015, in Chisinau (Moldova) a Workshop on "Decent employment rights of women and the promotion of equality of opportunity: experience and prospects" was conducted. The event was organized by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-PERC) at the Institute of Labour of the National Confederation of Trade Unions of Moldova and with the support of the ILO Bureau for Workers’ activities and the ILO Technical cooperation project, "From the crisis towards Decent and Safe jobs in Central Asia and Southern Caucasus”

During the opening ceremony, The President of the Confederation of Trade Unions of Moldova, Oleg Budza noted, that “the purpose of the seminar was to inform the participants of the results achieved by trade unions of Moldova in the European development of the country, to protect the rights and interests of workers ", including those issues in the collective bargaining process. During the workshop, the participants had the opportunity to meet with representatives of the Trade union Confederation labour Inspector Elena Karkelan. President of the Women’s Council of the National Confederation of Moldova Luba Rotaru specified that the seminar also discussed the issues of child health, social benefits for women, discrimination against women in all its forms and promotion of women to positions of leadership. " The event was attended by delegations of women - trade union leaders of the three countries of Central Asia, including Kazakhstan, headed by the Deputy Chairperson of the Federation of Trade Unions of Kazakhstan Gulnara Zhumageldieva; Tajikistan delegation, headed by Marhobo Saidova, Deputy Chairperson of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Kyrgyz Republic delegation, headed by Deputy Chairperson of the Federation of Trade Unions of Kyrgyzstan Rysgul Babayeva.

During workshop, the participants explored the mechanisms of social partnership, strategies, methods and techniques of negotiation processes, causes and possible solutions to labour disputes, methods to promote the employment for women, gender aspects of collective agreements and motivation and participation of women in trade union activities. The issue of the trade union leadership, the image of the female leader of the union and communication between women and men were discussed.
On one of the sessions the ITUC-PERC Policy Adviser Olga Nicolae focused discussion at collective bargaining procedures, issues to be included in the collective agreement, inclusion of the main provisions of ILO conventions in collective agreements. The knowledge and exchange of views have been reinforced by practical exercises to simulate social dialogue at different branches.

On February 26 the session has been conducted by the Senior Specialist in Workers’ Activities of the ILO Moscow DWT/CO Office Sergejus Glovackas on the current state of the trade union movement in the region of the Central Asia, the pressing issues facing the trade unions in terms of promotion of the ILO Conventions.
The logical conclusion of the seminar was the "round table" on the 27th of February, on the last day of the seminar. It was attended by representatives of the Women’s Council of the National Confederation of Trade Unions of Moldova. The main issue on the agenda of the round table was to discuss and develop strategies for union with the subsequent creation of equal opportunities for women.

Women leaders decided to strengthen the links between trade union federations by enhancing communications, continuous exchange of experience. The meeting came to the decision to hold the next meeting of representatives of women’s trade union organizations in September 2015 in (Georgia) at the training center Federation of Trade Unions of Georgia discuss promotion and implementation of the ILO social Conventions.