Description
During the last decade, trade union density through Europe has declined significantly and Latvia is not an exemption. Low trade union density leads to weaker social dialogue and cooperation and ability to represent workers’ rights at different levels of social partnership, as well as implementing the decent work agenda. Hence, the main target of the project was to come back to the main roots of the decent work agenda and provide information and guidance on employees rights and obligations.
Project activities focused on raising awareness on labour rights and obligations through trade unions work and providing access to information. One of the reasons for the low trade unions capacity to fight against undeclared work and social dumpling so far, is low trust to trade unions within society. According to the latest survey at the start of the project, only 7.2% of society trusted trade unions. At the same time, a survey indicated the highest shadow economy (17.1% in 2017) and undeclared work (7.4% in 2017) between Baltic countries. The density of trade unions fell significantly during the last decade mainly due the economic crisis when many workers left the country and migrated looking for better working conditions abroad. Besides, many enterprises reduced their number of employees due to the economic crisis and also as a consequence of digitalisation. At the same time, employers and foreign investors more and more emphasised that they face significant lack of workforce and borders of Latvia should be opened with easier conditions to invite workforce from the third countries what leads to social dumping in several cases. At this time trade unions should be stronger and should fight more against undeclared work and social dumpling and inform employees on their rights and obligations through raise awareness campaigns and more active and visible trade unions work.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to promote and raise awareness and improve access to information and guidance on decent work arrangements, including social dialogue and trade union participation in Latvia. It focused on awareness-raising activities to target audience through social media and other channels.
The project included the following activities and outputs:
- A social media influencer published regullarly information prepared by LBAS experts until April 2022, which focused on decent work-related issues.
- Development of the interactive application was partially completed.
- Four videos about the decent work agenda were produced in cooperation with SIA „Vidzemes Televīzija,” and one animation film titled "Trade Union - That''s Us!" was produced, which provided valuable content for public education and awareness campaigns.
- A study visit to LO in Oslo, Norway, took place in March 2022 for a delegation of five representatives from LBAS and its affiliates, including meetings with LO to learn about best practices in collective agreements, recruitment, organizing, and social dumping.
- Development of discussion material on undeclared work and social dumping in collaboration with experts from LBAS and LO, used for the final event and dissemination via the LBAS website and social media channels. Additionally, it contributed to discussions within the National Tripartite Cooperation Council (NTSP) and Parliamentary commissions-
- A final conference entitled “The Shadow Economy: Challenges and Solutions in the Context of Social Dialogue” was organised in Riga in May 2022. The event brought together key stakeholders from various sectors, including employers, government representatives, and trade unions, and addressed issues of undeclared work, social dumping, and the importance of social dialogue.
The results of the project aligned with the expected outcomes and demonstrated a significant impact in several areas:
- Awareness and Education: The videos and social media campaigns successfully raised awareness about decent work and social dialogue. They reached a broad audience and provided valuable educational content.
- Engagement: The use of social media, mainly through the influencer’s contributions, helped engage also younger generations in discussions about labour rights and union involvement.
- Knowledge Exchange: The study visit to LO Norway provided invaluable insights into the Norwegian model of labour relations, which LBAS plans to incorporate into its future strategies.
- Policy Influence: The discussion material on undeclared work and social dumping played a key role in shaping conversations at the National Tripartite Cooperation Council and in Parliament. The final conference was an essential milestone in fostering social dialogue on these critical issues.
The project was important for LBAS in enhancing its advocacy efforts for decent work and strengthening its role in social dialogue. It helped increase visibility and engagement on key labour issues. The collaboration with experts, the production of educational materials, and the international study visit added significant value to the project. The lessons learned will have long-lasting effects on LBAS’s strategies moving forward. The feedback from conference participants and those who engaged with the digital content was positive, highlighting the value of the discussions and the relevance of the topics covered. The project contributed significantly to social dialogue by providing platforms for discussing crucial labour market issues, such as social dumping and undeclared work. It also supported the quality of decent work by promoting awareness of labour rights and fair employment practices. Finally, the project helped build trust between unions, employers, and government bodies, fostering a collaborative environment for future negotiations. In conclusion, the project achieved its key objectives despite some challenges related to digital application development, and ithas laid a solid foundation for future work on social dialogue, decent work, and involvement in trade unions.
Summary of bilateral results
The project promoter highlighted that the contribution of project partner LO was essential for the project’s success. LO''s expertise and cooperation ensured high-quality outputs and meaningful knowledge exchange, and the lessons learned are expected to contribute to future union activities in Latvia.. During the project, online meetings were held on issues related to discussion material for the final event of the project, a study visit to Norway was organised, and representatives of LO participated in the final event.