Dear Jurate,

This is a short note explaining the process of communication and consultations with social partners in determining labour and employment policy in Georgia and to once again state that since establishment of TSPC in 2013 social partners have been involved in discussions on various issues related to labour/employment policy.

As to the Labour and Employment National Strategy  2019-2020, this is to inform you that since the day Ministry started work on a draft strategy, representatives of social partners were informed and the initial draft was sent to them (around end of November or beginning of December).

Besides that, on January 18 2019, meeting of a working group under Tripartite Social Partnership Commission (set up with the aim of discussing topics envisaged in TSPC action plan 2018-2019) was primarily dedicated to discussion of the draft strategy (minutes of the meeting attached). Following the decision made at the meeting draft of strategy was again sent to all members, including social partners.

This is also to inform you that there was a misunderstanding during MFA review mission in May following of which and after revision of the draft, Ministry sent the document to social partners again on July 1, 2019 (relevant representatives copied and email screenshot attached ). We have already received their feedback.

And as you are aware revision of draft strategy and AP is ongoing.

Regards,

Lika

Dear Lika,

These are consolidated comments for the EU.

Given the fact that most serious comments, in my view, are related to the indicators and log frame in particular, I would propose to send to us the revised version in English for confirmation.

As regards consultations with social partners, I would recommend to prepare a short note 1-2 pages providing the information when and with whom the draft strategy was discussed as under current circumstances  just the statement that it was discussed is not enough.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Jurate

Dear Lika, colleagues,

Many thanks for consulting us on the draft strategy. We welcome that the strategy has been substantially improved compared to the previous version and that many of our previous comments have been taken into account.

Having collected the views from colleagues in the Commission, and including the European Training Foundation, we would like to raise the following issues to your attention:

1.                      The draft strategy refers to an action plan in Section 4.3 and lists several key elements of such a plan. While you have provided a “log frame” with a list of indicators and the implementation timeframe, we also see a need to include information on the pacing, and the resourcing (financial and human) of actions and on the roles and responsibilities of all the institutions to be involved – either in a standalone document (action plan) or as part of the strategy (alternatively, although not ideal, in a somewhat extended version of the log frame). Regarding the pacing, the document would be more usable and credible if it gave a sense of sequencing, i.e. which actions should come first and which actions should follow by when (rather than stating 2023 for all actions/indicators, as is the case in the current log frame).

2.                      The strategy (p20) includes a reference to a Law on Supporting Employment, which is being drafted. A specific commitment to the adoption of this law, with a timetable/target date, and to its implementation (e.g. the establishment of a Public Employment Service) should be included as an action point in the log frame (or other document, see Point 1). We consider this important, as the MFA condition includes an explicit reference to the “completion of the employment-related legal framework”.

3.                      In a number of other areas, specific actions and/or indicators of success appear to be missing and could usefully be added. The attached documents provide specific examples of such gaps.

4.                      A clearer differentiation between the terms “aims” and “objectives” could be considered (although this may at least partly be a translation issue).

5.                      Regarding the process, we are not sure whether the social partners have been consulted on the draft strategy document. If not, we would strongly encourage such a consultation, as also discussed during the MFA review mission in May. We would be grateful if you could let us know what steps you are planning to take on this or have already taken since mid-May.

We remain available to discuss.

Best regards,

Joern

Joern Griesse
Deputy Head of Unit
Neighbourhood countries – macrofinancial assistance
Tel. +32 2 29-96350

European Commission
Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs
Building Charlemagne, Office 11/011
Rue de la Loi 170, B-1049 Brussels