11:47, 2 May 2022

At rally in Tbilisi, trade unions demand protection of workers' rights

The rally of the Association of Georgian Trade Unions in Tbilisi on May 1, 2022. Screenshot of the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x05ca5AtpLY

In Tbilisi, the Association of Georgian Trade Unions has held a rally in defence of workers' rights. The audience demanded a safe working environment, equal pay for women and men, and the introduction of unemployment allowances.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Georgia faces plenty of problems in the labour sphere; and trade unions are actively involved in defending the interests of trade union members and ordinary workers. Thus, on January 17, Georgian social workers went on a strike, stating that their wages had not been raised for 15 years. The Georgian Ministry of Public Health agreed to fulfil some of their demands.

The wave of strikes in Georgia is caused by low wages and massive violations of workers' rights, Irakli Petriashvili, the head of the above Association, has stated.

Doctors, railway workers, miners and other industrial workers took part in the May 1 action in Tbilisi – several hundred people in total, the "News-Georgia" has reported.

Although May 1 is not an official holiday in Georgia, for trade unions, this day remains an occasion to remind authorities about citizens' problems, Mr Petriashvili has concluded.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on May 1, 2022 at 06:29 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Source: Caucasian Knot