Social Justice and Decent Work for All: Republican Tripartite Commission Meets in Kyrgyzstan

On February 20, the Republican Tripartite Commission (RTC) had an extended meeting in Bishkek to discuss social justice and decent work for all with participation and support of the International Labour Organization (ILO).

News | 20 February 2020
Kamaldin Toktosartov, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Development (right), awards the ILO and its constituents – Federation of Trade Unions of Kyrgyzstan and JIA Business Association – with Certificates of Appreciation for their contribution in promoting social and labour relations.
The meeting commemorated the World Day of Social Justice announced by the UN General Assembly in 2007 following the Kyrgyz Republic’s initiative, to be observed annually on February 20 starting from 2009.

The meeting was attended by Kamaldin Toktosartov, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Development, Rysgul Babaeva, Deputy Chairperson, Federation of Trade Unions of Kyrgyzstan, Zhoodar Omoshov, Board Chairman, JIA Business Association, Rima Apasova, Vice President, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Kyrgyzstan, and representatives of the academic community and international organizations.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Toktosartov said: “Last year the RTC resumed its work. We are happy to see the JIA Business Association join the RTC’s deliberations in a hope that the list of representatives of employers’ organizations will enlarge. Today, on the World Day of Social Justice, we will discuss a new draft General Agreement between the Kyrgyz Government, Trade Union Federation of Kyrgyzstan and nationwide employers’ associations for the period of 2020-2022. Moreover, today we will need to discuss what needs be done to raise the RTC’s status.”

Mr. Omoshov, JIA Board Chairman, believes that “the RTC, being a coordinating body, should deal with regulating social and labour relations as well as harmonizing the socioeconomic interests of trade union associations, employer associations and the government.”

The participants discussed and generally supported approved, subject to specific amendments and comments, the draft General Agreement proposed by the Ministry of Labour and Social Development designed to regulate social, labour and related economic relations and to ensure the involvement of the ILO constituents in developing and implementing economic transformation policies in the Kyrgyz Republic.