"Fair Elections" has filed a lawsuit in city courts to protect the rights of 43 employees dismissed from the National Agency of Public Registry in defense of labor rights.
According to information released by "Fair Elections," the dismissal process at the National Agency of Public Registry "did not serve real needs and was conducted in an entirely unjustified and discriminatory manner."
"On November 28, 2024, following the statement by 'Georgian Dream' regarding the suspension of the European integration process, the Georgian public responded with protests. Many public servants openly expressed their support for Georgia’s European Union accession process, citing Article 78 of the Georgian Constitution. This article obligates constitutional bodies to take all measures within their powers to ensure Georgia’s full integration into the European Union and NATO.
Following the individual and collective statements made by public servants, 'Georgian Dream' announced a reorganization process in state institutions. In parallel, on December 13, 2024, 'Georgian Dream' members rapidly introduced amendments to the 'Law on Public Service' of Georgia. These amendments deteriorated the existing legislative framework and violated the labor rights of public servants, fundamentally contradicting the spirit of the Georgian Constitution and the 'Law on Public Service' of Georgia.
At the end of December 2024, the process of dismissing employees from the National Agency of Public Registry began. Employees were notified of their dismissal. The agency explained that over 90% of the planned reform work had already been successfully completed, and given the small volume of remaining tasks, employees were being let go.
The dismissed employees believe that these developments are directly related to a petition created on November 30, 2024, which was signed by more than 350 employees of the National Agency of Public Registry. Through this petition, agency employees publicly opposed 'Georgian Dream’s' unconstitutional statement and condemned violence. Notably, the decisions taken by the National Agency contradict the justifications provided in the dismissal notices sent to employees at the end of December. Specifically, a public statement from the agency on November 9, 2024, indicated that the systematic land registration project, initially set to conclude on December 31, 2024, had been extended until December 31, 2025. Additionally, in November, employees were notified that the existing human resources would be maintained in 2025.
Furthermore, in September-October 2024, the National Agency of Public Registry announced 45 job vacancies for registrar positions in the Department of Property Registration. According to the dismissed employees, office spaces were even prepared for the new hires.
'Fair Elections' asserts that the dismissal process at the National Agency of Public Registry did not serve genuine needs and was conducted in an entirely unjustified and discriminatory manner. The agency constantly faces a staff shortage, as evidenced by multiple job postings on the Public Service Bureau's website. Moreover, some of the dismissed employees had been working at the agency for years, indicating that their contracts, under Georgian legislation, should be considered indefinite employment contracts. Despite requests for personal data, the National Agency of Public Registry has not yet provided the requested information concerning most of the affected employees.
In defense of labor rights, 'Fair Elections' has filed a lawsuit in city courts on behalf of the 43 dismissed employees from the National Agency of Public Registry.
'Fair Elections' provides free legal assistance to public servants who were unlawfully dismissed and allegedly fired based on political motives," the statement reads.
