Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2017, published 107th ILC session (2018)

Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) - Georgia (Ratification: 1999)

The Committee takes due note of the Government’s reply to the observations of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), Education International (EI), the Educators Scientists Free Trade Union of Georgia (ESFTUG) and the Georgian Trade Union Confederation (GTUC) received respectively on 1, 17 and 29 September 2014 and referring to the issues raised by the Committee below. The Committee further takes note of the observations of the ITUC and the GTUC received on 4 September 2017 referring to the alleged use of force by the authorities during a peaceful protest and the Government’s reply thereon.

Article 2 of the Convention. Minimum membership requirement. In its previous comments, the Committee had welcomed the amendment of section 2(9) of the Law on Trade Unions so as to lower the minimum membership requirement for establishing a trade union from 100 to 50. The Committee had requested the Government to review, in consultation with the most representative workers’ and employers’ organizations, the impact of the amendment in practice and to take steps for its amendment if it is found that the new minimum number required still hinders the establishment of trade unions in small and medium-sized enterprises. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the consultations concerning section 2(9) of the Law on Trade Unions have started and the result of it will be transmitted to the Tripartite Social Partnership Commission for decision, which will be then transmitted to the Committee. The Committee hopes that the Government will pursue, in consultation with the social partners, its efforts in assessing the impact of the amendment of section 2(9) of the Law on Trade Unions and will take the necessary measures for its amendment in the near future if it is found that the new minimum number required still hinders the establishment of trade unions in small and medium-sized enterprises. The Committee requests the Government to supply information on all progress made in this respect.

The Committee is raising other matters in a request addressed directly to the Government.