Description
The objective of the Project is to strengthen social dialogue at the EU level and national level and its effect on reducing undeclared work, as well as improving working conditions in the Latvian construction sector.
Construction industry is one of the largest employers in Latvia, and contributed to about 7% of the Latvia’s GDP in 2018. However, statistics show that the size of the shadow economy in the construction sector was about 35 % in 2017, and the main component is undeclared work, in particular envelope wages.
The Project is expected to reach the following outcome: improve social dialogue and stronger cooperation. Activities are organised around three main elements:
- firstly, improving the trust of partner''s organisations in social dialogue activities initiated by the LBP, supported by in-depth surveys and analysis
- secondly, building capacity of the LBP to take part in EU level social dialogue on issues related to undeclared work and decent work.
- thirdly, improving the enforcement of legislation, the Collective agreement on minimum wage in construction sector, as well as influencing the policy decisions to enhance the social dialogue as a tool to reduce undeclared work and improve working conditions.
The following activities were planned.
- 2 annual studies to measure the size of shadow economy and its impact on the competitiveness of the construction industry and the factors affecting it (in particular undeclared work).
- at least 3 experts’ analysis on best practices, self-regulation tools, including collective agreements impact on industry’s competitiveness and potential further developments to promote the use of social dialogue instruments, and social dumping and its impact on strategic public procurement
- exchange of best practices, in particular Nordic countries
- 7 awareness-raising events on enforcement of measures tackling undeclared work and improving working conditions
- guidelines and tools