Description
The challenge of Third Party Violence (TPV) is recognized by the European Social partners. Employers and trade unions at EU level have signed common guidelines to help tackle TPV. These guidelines are also signed by European umbrella organisations for employers and trade unions in the local government sector, the CEMR and EPSU. In Hungary, no comprehensive research on this has been conducted at local level. The objective of this project is an enhanced understanding of the benefits of decent work, through research on third party violence in local governments (LGs), and supporting actions by LGs and their public servants to prevent, reduce and mitigate third-party violence and its consequences using Norwegian experiences. The Norwegian partners give information on social dialogue model, different policies, initiatives and experiences with connecting TPV. The project aims to ensure that LGs in Hungary adopt a result-oriented policy that addresses the issue of third-party violence. In doing so, the project targets public servants and leaders from Hungarian LGs.
Summary of project results
TÖOSZ assess periodically the needs/demands of Hungarian local governments (LGs). Results of research in the project showed that violence is a significant problem. The 4 partners have been working together for the prevention of violence against LGs and their employees. The partners are trade union MKKSZ, the Norwegian KS and Fagforbundet. Main aim was the exchange of Norwegian-Hungarian experiences, the development of tripartite dialogue and the creation of decent working conditions in the municipal sector. The participants of the programme found it important to be prepared to step up against and prevent violent actions committed by a third party and evaluated the project useful and successful. Successful reached outcomes: improved mutual understanding of factors LG’s capacity to systematically work on prevention of the third party violence, increased bilateral cooperation. The results/outputs were an adaptable strategic model that is based on Norwegian methods and serves as a common starting point of local authorities to prevent and treat client-based violence. Six LGs piloted the elaborated method. Several events (95 trained persons and 879 participants) and 2 publications served the successful dissemination of the project results.
Summary of bilateral results
Norwegian Partners provided the theoretical and practical basis of the project: social dialogue and decent work has long history in Norwegian LGs, which were useful experiences for Hungarian LGs. Two perfect organized study visits and several visits to Hungary helped to understand for Hungarian decision makers on central and local level the importance of social dialogue, TPV and decent working conditions in LGs offices. Representatives of Hungarian ministries were involved in sharing experiences and they contributed to achieve the elaboration of the legal framework for introduction new systems for prevention TPV in LGs.