Decent work for social sector employees in Latvia

About this project

<p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif">The aim of the project was to <span style="color: #000000">enhance implementation of the decent work for social care sector workers in Latvia, highlighting the significance of the social dialogue as a key instrument for attaining fair and decent working conditions in the social sector. The project also aimed at strengthening </span>bilateral cooperation and transfer of Norwegian experience and knowledge.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="color: #000000">The project included the following activities:</span></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="color: #000000"><strong>Kick off seminar</strong> for project partners, local governments and social services, national social sector authorities, and trade unions;</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="color: #000000"><strong>Four regional seminars and individual consultations to promote social dialogue</strong> between employers and trade unions (introduction to social dialogue, benefits of collective agreements, how to build trust and confidence, Norwegian experience). Individual consultations with minimum selected local governments to start collective bargaining in the project after seminars. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="color: #000000"><strong>Workshops and trainings for local politicians and leaders of municipal social service authorities.</strong>&nbsp;M</span>astery orientated leadership training (Norwegian experience); negotiating and communication skills; how to involve staff of the social services in decision-taking process; inter-institutional cooperation; identification and management of risk factors for social workers in high social risk environment etc.;</span></span></li> <li style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif"><strong>Elaboration of recommendations for implementing decent work in social sector </strong>endorsed by the Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments and Latvian Trade Union of Local Government Employees as a joint commitment of both employers and employees;</span></span></li> <li style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif"><strong>Final conference</strong> - presentation of project results and outline of further steps to sustain the outcomes;</span></span></li> <li style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif"><strong>Awareness raising campaign on role of social dialogue in achieving decent work arrangements</strong> carried out throughout the project as project publicity activities, articles published on the websites and social media accounts of the project partners.</span></span></li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p>

Bilateral cooperation results

The role of Norwegian partners was sharing of experience, competence and tools, as well as participation in conferences and seminars. The partners were partly involved in the development of the project concept and the project recommendations. They were fully involved in the exchange of knowledge and best practices in the webinars and meetings, and assisted in connecting with other Norwegian stakeholders.

Project partners

• Norwegian Union of Municipal and General Employees Donor project partner· Norway
• Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities Donor project partner· Norway
• Latvian Trade Union of Local Government Employees Project partner· Latvia