According to Irakli Petriashvili, Chairman of the Georgian Trade Union Confederation (GTUC), Georgia has significantly regressed in protecting public sector employees’ rights due to recent fast-tracked amendments to the Law on Public Service.
On February 25, GTUC submitted a complaint to the UN’s International Labour Organization (ILO), and the case will be reviewed on June 6 in Geneva.
“In recent years, we made progress toward international labor standards, but this latest law is a major step backward,” Petriashvili told BM.GE. “The changes conflict with Convention 98, which Georgia has ratified. As an ILO member, the country is obligated to align its laws with ratified conventions.”
He added that while the ILO cannot directly change laws, it can pressure governments through international standards enforcement. GTUC hopes the ILO will clearly outline Georgia’s obligations and prompt lawmakers to amend the law accordingly.
Petriashvili also noted that workers are now less able to challenge unfair dismissals due to legal changes eliminating prior protections such as reinstatement and compensation.
“People may stay silent for now, but the injustice adds up,” he warned. “The state must respect the conventions it has committed to—because real sustainability depends on justice.”
