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Description
The Workin Index project aimed to address the needs and constraints existing in Romania regarding the quality of social dialogue and the lack of promotion of the decent work agenda among trade unions and their members. The project promoter, Publisind Federation, with more than 70 trade unions from more than 10 branches, aimed to improve social dialogue and identify solutions that would improve working conditions for its members. The project targeted improving the representation process by increasing the operational capacity of the trade union organizations as well as transferring good practices and expertise from the Norwegian partner. The objective was achieved through training, promotional campaigns, and the development of specific tools, such as the measurement index of the decent work agenda and labour rights.
Specific objectives
- Ensure a framework of expertise and promotion of the decent work agenda
- Strengthening social dialogue and cooperation
- Developing and sustaining a public policy proposal to increase the level of involvement of trade unions in facilitating access to employment for young people, in harmonising labour demand and stabilising the younger labor force
The project was implemented for the first time in Romania by a public trade union federation (Federatia Publisind) and a private trade union federation (Federatia Sindicatelor Libere din Romania) with the support of the Norwegian partner (YS) which affiliates both public and private employees.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to address the challenges related to the quality of social dialogue and the lack of promotion of the decent work agenda among trade unions and their members in Romania. The primary issues included inadequate representation processes, insufficient operational capacity of trade union organizations, and the need for better promotion of labor rights and decent work conditions. Additionally, there was a need to develop public policy proposals to increase the involvement of trade unions in facilitating access to employment for young people and stabilizing the younger labor force.
The project implemented several key activities to achieve its objectives. It began with the creation of a worker rights index and conducted research, workshops, and promotion events applicable to both private and public sectors. To increase trade union capacity, the project developed procedures for promoting decent work and facilitated training sessions. The project also organized study visits to Norway to strengthen the role of social partners in designing and implementing employment policies. Practical training in the collective bargaining process was provided through four workshops dedicated to trade union leaders. Additionally, the project included four training workshops focusing on negotiation processes during and after the pandemic, with digital and physical presentations from the Norwegian partner.
The main output of the project was the creation of the tool to measure working conditions objectively and in this way to permit comparison between different types of organizations, no matter their profile or if they belong to public or private sector. This tool refers to all the dimensions of the Workin index (occupational health and safety, remuneration, social protection, social dialogue, working time and professional training), and has one chapter dedicated to Norwegian best practice.
The project successfully concluded with several significant outcomes. It completed the Desk Research for Decent Work, producing a comprehensive report in both Romanian and English. The campaign to promote the decent work agenda included two seminars with 61 participants, featuring interactive sessions and speakers from Romania and Norway. The project increased trade unions'' capacity through four physical training sessions for private sector trade unions and two physical and two digital sessions for public sector trade unions, with a total of 174 participants. Study visits and the exchange of good practices from Norway strengthened the role of social partners, with 12 people attending the visits. Practical training in collective bargaining was enhanced through four workshops with 68 participants. The project also addressed PTSD in law enforcement agencies through study visits to Norway. The primary beneficiaries were trade union representatives and members, who gained improved skills and knowledge to promote decent work and engage in effective social dialogue.
In addition, the project influenced the design and implementation of the youth employment policy. Following the two study visits in Norway and after questionnaires research, several measures were proposed and presented to stakeholders in two public meetings. The results were then sent to all institutions and organizations responsible for youth employment, including the Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Finance and The Youth Council from Romania.
Summary of bilateral results
The bilateral partnerships was an important element of the project. Based on the Norwegian experience for social dialogue and collective bargaining, several training sessions were organized with representatives of the two Romanian trade union federations. The projet promoter highlighted in particiular the Norwegian approach on social dialogue in the public administration and the use of data in collective bargaining as an important learning from the bilateral cooperation.