Sharing Experience - Ukrainian National Platforms Visits Vilnius

EaP CSF Working Group 5 on “Social Dialogue” has organised a visit of the Ukrainian National Platform to Vilnius in September in cooperation with Lithuanian trade union “Solidarumas”.

The main goal of the visit has been to initiate a platform for experience sharing between the two countries. Lithuania´s post-Soviet development is able to offer a unique model for social, economic and political changes, particularly in the sphere of social dialogue. This includes social security, professional education, changes in the labour market to strengthen independent trade unions and business organisations, among other areas.

In addition, the working group has applied to participate in the “European Dimension: Strengthening Social Dialogue in Ukraine” project organised by the Vidrodzenia Foundation. If approved, an expert group will have the possibility to visit Lithuania to study its model of social development. The visit has been partly financed by Lithuanian trade union “Solidarumas”.

The study visit to Lithuania took place on 21-24 September, during which the Ukrainian delegation met with the vice-speaker of the Lithuania Sejm and member of the Committee of Social Relations and Labor, Mr. Algiras Syas as well as the First Speaker of independent Lithuanian Sejm, Dr. Vytautas Landsbergis.

The delegation also took part in a meeting with the Tripartite (Economic-Social Council) of Lithuania, which was also attended by member of the Social Insurance Foundations and Labour Exchange of the Ministry of Social Affairs, to discuss the representation of social partners according to Lithuanian law and their interactions.

Finally, Director General of Lithuanian Industrialists Confederation, Mr. Gediminas Rainys, also met with representatitives of the Ukrainian Nation Platform to discuss investment policy in Lithuania and the re-organisation of industry during the period of association with the EU.

Findings of the visit:

The LTU “Solidarumas” will arrange for humanitarian aid to be delivered to the Ukrainian populations (particularly trade unions members affected by the war)
Expert Group initiated work on “Social dialogue developing strategy» - which will be presented at the “round table” in Kiev and the WG5 session at the sixth annual Assembly of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum.