On May 1, the world marks International Workers' Day. Workers in Georgia, as in many other countries, continue to struggle to ensure decent and safe working conditions. There are frequent cases when, in response to the demands expressed regarding working conditions and instead of satisfying these demands, employers grossly violate the rights of workers. Neglect of safety norms in the heavy, harmful and dangerous workplace remains a problem.

Decent working conditions continue to be a challenge for women. According to the 2022 Global Gender Inequality Index, the average payments between the sexes differ, and men's estimated annual payments are twice as much as those of women. In addition, despite the positive changes made to the Labour Code, it is still a challenge for fathers to take childcare leave in the public sector, as well as for women employed in the private sector to enjoy this right.

Cases of unequal treatment on various grounds, as well as instances of sexual harassment against women, can still be observed both at the pre-contractual stage and in the workplace. The Public Defender has identified many cases of discriminatory treatment of employees in a public institution due to a dissenting opinion.

There are still a number of barriers to the promotion of the employment of persons with disabilities, including the lack of information among employers and youth with disabilities about the services available, as well as stigma and unpreparedness regarding the use of reasonable accommodation measures. The geographical coverage of the service centers of the Employment Promotion Agency is also insufficient.

The realization of the labour rights of the couriers working through shared platforms is also a challenge. The companies consider the legal relations with them not as an employment-legal relationship, but as a partnership (service, employment) contract, as a result of which the employed persons cannot enjoy the minimum labour rights such as vacation, sick leave, overtime pay, etc.

Unfortunately, participation in protests by employees demanding improved working conditions, work-related criticism, dissenting opinion, or trade union activities are also unacceptable to the employers and often lead to harassment, dismissal, or other violations of the labour rights.

Despite the recent positive reform of the labour legislation, there is much work to be done to properly enforce the existing regulations and to protect the labour rights of the employees. The Public Defender calls on all responsible bodies to take effective steps to ensure the protection of labour rights in the country.