An action of students' protest against the Labour Code in force in Georgia passed off in Tbilisi

An action of protest against the Labour Code of Georgia was held in the center of Tbilisi on the initiative of students' organization "Laboratory 1918".

Several tens students and activists of trade union movement gathered in front of the monument to Shota Rustaveli on January, 17. They demanded changes to the Labour Code of Georgia and appealed against some of its clauses which, in the participants' opinion, allowed to dismiss employees groundlessly and legitimatized discriminating regulations in the system of labour relations.

"On the one hand, human rights are violated when the employer acts at will, on the other, discharge of an employee can be politically motivated. This problem became even more topical this year when election is going to be held in Georgia", "Novosti Georgia" quotes representative of "Laboratory 1918" Eki Kutubidze.

United Trade Unions of Georgia declared their support of the students' action. According to their Chairman Irakly Petriashvili, the Georgian Trade Unions greet the students' initiative in this sphere.

"The Labour Code in force violates the rights of working people, obliterates the major values of civil society, the principle of solidarity which should be the basis of a democratic state. This legislation is totally based upon medieval regulations and standards", Petriashvili said to the participants of the protest action.

The Labour Code of Georgia was also censured by representatives of National-Democratic party. "Until Georgia changes its Labour Code the doors of European Union will be closed for it", "Georgia Online" quotes Deputy of the Georgian Parliament Guram Chakhvadze.

However, representatives of the Georgian Government reject the accusations of discriminating nature of the clauses of the Labour Code.

Vakhtang Lezhava, Chief Adviser of Prime Minister, declared that the Georgian legislation complied with the international one, including the conventions of International Labour Organization.

"There is certainly nothing perfect and a discussion of some improvements can take place. But we eliminate from this discussion the demands of local and international Trade Unions which do not help improve the situation with employees but only increase the role of Trade Unions as quasi-bureaucracy", "Echo of the Caucasus" quotes the Adviser.