The ILO Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) for Georgia sets out four priority areas for ILO technical cooperation and advocacy through 2028, agreed with government, employers, and unions.
The 2024–2028 DWCP was developed against a backdrop of sustained GDP growth, a major labour market shock from 2022 migration inflows (Russians and Ukrainians), a persistent gender pay gap (~33%), rising informal employment concerns, and Georgia's EU candidacy (granted December 2023) which creates new alignment obligations with EU labour standards. See Labour Market Observatory →
| Body | Role | Meeting frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Tripartite Steering Committee | Overall oversight; approve annual workplans; review progress | Biannual |
| ILO Tbilisi Country Office | Technical coordination; reporting to ILO Geneva; donor management | Continuous |
| Ministry of Economy | Government focal point; Labour Code and Inspectorate priorities | Quarterly review |
| Ministry of IDPs/Labour/Health | Social protection and employment priorities | Quarterly review |
| GTUC | Worker representative; advocacy for Priorities 2 and 4 | Monthly ILO contact |
| GEA | Employer representative; business climate inputs | Monthly ILO contact |
Annual progress reviews are published on the ILO Tbilisi website. GILS contributes to labour market data quality for Priority 1 monitoring.
Georgia's EU candidacy (granted December 2023) creates a significant new frame for labour policy. EU accession conditionality includes progressive harmonisation with: the EU Equal Pay Directive (2023), the EU Adequate Minimum Wages Directive (2022), the EU Work-Life Balance Directive (2019), and the EU Transparent and Predictable Working Conditions Directive (2019). The DWCP 2024–2028 has been designed to be complementary to this EU harmonisation agenda — particularly on minimum wage reform (Priority 2) and social protection (Priority 4). See ILO Conventions →
The ILO Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) for Georgia 2023-2026 is the agreed framework between the ILO, the Government of Georgia, and the Georgian social partners (GTUC and GEA) for advancing Decent Work — the ILO's overarching objective encompassing productive employment, rights at work, social protection, and social dialogue.
The Georgia DWCP 2023-2026 has three priority outcomes: (1) improved employment and income security, particularly for vulnerable groups; (2) strengthened labour rights and industrial relations; (3) enhanced social protection coverage. Each priority has specific outputs, indicators, and ILO technical assistance commitments.
GILS serves as an independent monitor of DWCP progress. This page tracks: commitments made; actions taken; indicators against targets; and GILS assessment of where progress is on track, lagging, or at risk.
The DWCP is only as valuable as its implementation. Georgia has made credible progress on employment services and social protection — the ESDC transformation from passive registry to active employment service is a genuine achievement. The labour rights pillar is lagging badly. GILS recommends treating the 2024-2026 DWCP period as a rescue operation for the labour rights commitments: minimum wage reform and collective bargaining law amendment are specific, achievable, and overdue. GILS will publish an independent DWCP progress scorecard annually.
The DWCP midterm review (2025) should include an independent civil society assessment alongside the tripartite review. GILS is positioned to lead this: structured scorecard using the same indicators as the official review; published separately; presented at the annual review meeting. Precedent: ILO Rwanda DWCP civil society review. Cost: GEL 15,000 (GILS staff time).
ILO DWCP evaluation methodology · Rwanda (civil society midterm review) · Georgia PHIG institutional capacityThe labour rights pillar requires immediate legislative action: (1) Labour Code amendment — minimum wage to GEL 500, with Low Pay Commission; (2) Labour Code amendment — employer refusal to bargain in good faith becomes a LIS-sanctionable offence; (3) LIS mandate expansion — authority to investigate and sanction anti-union discrimination. Both amendments are short (4-6 pages) and technically prepared. Target: Parliament Q1 2025 session.
ILO DWT technical assistance offer · CEACR Observation 2024 requirements · GTUC legislative drafting supportThe DWCP social protection pillar includes 'enhanced income security for workers' — impossible without unemployment insurance. ILO C168 (not yet ratified) provides the framework. Design proposal: 0.5% employee + 0.5% employer contribution; 60% wage replacement for 6 months; ESDC administration. ILO has a ready-to-use design template for Georgia. Parliament consideration: 2026.
ILO C168 design template for Georgia · Estonia (unemployment insurance model) · Moldova (unemployment benefit reform)Current DWCP indicator tracking is internal to MLHSA and ILO. Make it public: GILS Observatory hosts a live DWCP Progress Dashboard — 12 key indicators, RAG status (Red/Amber/Green), updated quarterly. Data from: Geostat LFS, LIS annual report, ESDC annual report, NBG pension data. Transparent public monitoring strengthens accountability and international credibility.
ILO DWCP transparency initiative · Moldova (public DWCP dashboard) · GILS Observatory (extend existing infrastructure)The 2023-2026 DWCP expires in 18 months. GILS recommends starting successor preparation now: (1) GILS analytical input to successor DWCP design — position paper on priority gaps; (2) formal GILS seat at the design consultations; (3) push for a stronger labour rights pillar with binding milestones; (4) include GILS Observatory as an implementation monitoring mechanism. Successor DWCP signing target: Q1 2027.
ILO DWCP design guidelines · GTUC (social partner seat) · GEA (employer seat) · GILS (civil society seat)| Convention / Standard | Subject | Ratified | Compliance | Key Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DWCP Priority 1 | Employment and income security | On track | Progress | ESDC participants 85K; youth and disability gaps remain |
| DWCP Priority 2 | Labour rights and industrial relations | Agreed | At risk | CB coverage 5% vs 15% target; minimum wage unreformed |
| DWCP Priority 3 | Social protection coverage | Agreed | Partial | Pension growing; no unemployment insurance; TSA below subsistence |