Georgia has ratified 27 ILO Conventions, including all 8 fundamental (core) conventions. This page tracks ratification status, implementation gaps, and supervisory body observations.
| Convention | Subject | Ratified | CEACR status |
|---|---|---|---|
| C029 — Forced Labour (1930) | Prohibition of all forms of forced or compulsory labour | 1993 | No pending observations |
| C105 — Abolition of Forced Labour (1957) | Prohibition of forced labour as political coercion, discrimination, or discipline | 1993 | No pending observations |
| C087 — Freedom of Association (1948) | Right to organise without prior authorisation | 1999 | Direct request 2024 |
| C098 — Right to Organise and Bargain (1949) | Protection against anti-union discrimination; collective bargaining promotion | 1999 | Observation 2024 |
| C100 — Equal Remuneration (1951) | Equal pay for work of equal value, without sex-based discrimination | 1993 | Observation 2025 |
| C111 — Discrimination (Employment) (1958) | Non-discrimination in employment and occupation on 7 grounds | 1993 | Direct request 2024 |
| C138 — Minimum Age (1973) | Minimum age for admission to employment (Georgia: 16 years) | 1996 | No pending observations |
| C182 — Worst Forms of Child Labour (1999) | Immediate prohibition of worst forms of child labour | 2002 | No pending observations |
All 8 fundamental conventions ratified. Georgia has had no serious concerns raised on forced labour or child labour conventions. Ongoing CEACR observations relate to freedom of association, collective bargaining, and equal pay.
| Convention | Subject | Ratified | CEACR status |
|---|---|---|---|
| C081 — Labour Inspection (1947) | System of labour inspection in commercial and industrial workplaces | 1993 | Observation 2024 — staffing levels |
| C122 — Employment Policy (1964) | Full, productive, freely-chosen employment as major goal | 1993 | No pending observations |
| C129 — Labour Inspection (Agriculture) | Labour inspection for agricultural workplaces | NOT ratified | — |
| C144 — Tripartite Consultation (1976) | Tripartite consultation on ILO standards | 2006 | No pending observations |
C129 (Labour Inspection in Agriculture) is not ratified — a significant gap given the size of Georgia's agricultural sector (~35% of employment) and the very limited inspection coverage of agricultural workplaces.
| Convention | Subject | Year |
|---|---|---|
| C001 — Hours of Work (Industry) (1919) | 8-hour day / 48-hour week maximum in industrial workplaces | 1993 |
| C011 — Right of Association (Agriculture) | Agricultural workers' right to organise | 1993 |
| C014 — Weekly Rest (Industry) | 24 hours consecutive rest per week | 1993 |
| C019 — Equality of Treatment (Accident Comp.) | Equal workers' compensation for foreign and national workers | 1993 |
| C026 — Minimum Wage-Fixing Machinery | Systems for fixing minimum wages in trades where no collective bargaining | 1993 |
| C095 — Protection of Wages | Regular payment, currency, deduction limits | 1993 |
| C131 — Minimum Wage Fixing (1970) | Minimum wage fixing with particular reference to developing countries | 2006 |
| C142 — Human Resources Development | Vocational training and guidance policies | 2006 |
| C155 — Occupational Safety and Health (1981) | National OSH policy; employer/worker responsibilities | 2006 |
| C187 — Promotional Framework for OSH (2006) | National OSH system, programme, and preventive culture | 2014 |
The Committee of Experts (CEACR) noted that while collective bargaining is legally permitted, the absence of an erga omnes extension mechanism means bargaining outcomes cover only ~18% of workers. The CEACR requested Georgia to report on measures to promote collective bargaining coverage and consider introducing extension mechanisms. See Collective Bargaining data →
The CEACR expressed concern that Georgia's ~33% gender pay gap has shown no improvement over a decade, and that the Gender Equality Law's equal pay provision lacks enforcement. Georgia was requested to provide statistical data by sector and implement pay transparency measures. See Gender Pay Gap →
The CEACR noted the Labour Inspectorate's staffing level (~85 inspectors) is substantially below C081 standards for Georgia's workforce size, and that inspection coverage of agricultural workplaces is essentially zero. Requested a staffing plan and consideration of C129 ratification.
The CEACR requested information on the practical exercise of the right to strike in essential services, following reports from GTUC that minimum service obligations were applied more broadly than permitted under C087. No formal finding of violation, but follow-up required. See GTUC →
| Convention | Subject | Relevance to Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| C129 — Labour Inspection (Agriculture) | Inspection of agricultural workplaces | ~35% of employment in agriculture; near-zero inspection coverage |
| C175 — Part-Time Work (1994) | Equal treatment of part-time workers | Part-time and zero-hours work increasing; no specific protection |
| C189 — Domestic Workers (2011) | Decent work for domestic workers | ~35,000 formal domestic workers; large informal domestic sector |
| C190 — Violence and Harassment (2019) | Elimination of violence and harassment in the world of work | No specific workplace harassment law; domestic violence law covers only home |
Under Georgia's EU candidacy process, ratification of C189 and C190 has been specifically discussed in EU-Georgia labour chapter negotiations. GTUC has formally requested C190 ratification since 2021.
Georgia has ratified 27 ILO conventions — a reasonable number for a country its size and development level, but with significant gaps in key areas. The ratified conventions include the eight fundamental conventions (all ratified by 2006), several governance conventions, and a selection of technical conventions in areas such as employment service, wages, and occupational safety.
Ratification creates reporting obligations and subjects Georgia to ILO supervisory body review. The Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR) has issued Observations and Direct Requests on several conventions in recent years — particularly C087 (Freedom of Association), C098 (Collective Bargaining), C100 (Equal Remuneration), and C081 (Labour Inspection). These supervisory findings identify the gap between formal ratification and practical compliance.
The most significant unratified conventions relevant to Georgia's labour policy gaps are: C131 (Minimum Wage Fixing — relevant to the GEL 20 minimum wage scandal), C102 (Social Security Minimum Standards — relevant to TSA adequacy), C168 (Employment Promotion and Unemployment Protection — Georgia has no unemployment insurance), and C097/C143 (migration — given 1.5M Georgians abroad).
Ratification of ILO conventions is a commitment, not a performance. Georgia's 27 ratifications represent a set of international legal obligations — enforceable through ILO supervisory machinery — that currently are not met in several critical areas. GILS recommends Georgia move from a ratification-focused agenda (where the optics of signing conventions matters) to a compliance-focused agenda (where actual enforcement of ratified conventions is the measure). Five unratified conventions should be prioritised for ratification in the 2025-2026 Parliamentary session: C131, C097, C143, C156, and C168.
C131 requires a minimum wage-fixing mechanism with social partner consultation, giving due regard to workers' needs (subsistence) and economic factors. Ratification obligates Georgia to reform the GEL 20 minimum wage and establish a Low Pay Commission. MLHSA has confirmed technical readiness. Cost: zero. Impact: enables credible minimum wage reform with legal mandate.
ILO C131 · Georgia DCFTA obligation · Low Pay Commission model (UK/Ireland)Both have been in Georgia's 'pending ratification' list since the 2014 DCFTA. With 1.5M Georgians abroad and the 2022-2023 immigration surge, ratification is urgent. C097 extends equal treatment to documented migrants; C143 addresses irregular migration protection. Parliamentary ratification by December 2025.
ILO C097 · ILO C143 · Georgia EU DCFTA Chapter 13 roadmapCEACR Observations require Georgia to: (1) increase penalties for anti-union discrimination to deterrent level (GEL 5,000-15,000); (2) mandate good-faith collective bargaining (employer refusal currently unpunished); (3) provide LIS with authority to investigate and sanction anti-union conduct. These are amendments to Labour Code and LIS mandate — achievable in 2025 Parliament session.
CEACR Observations 2024 · ILO DWT technical assistance · Estonia (collective bargaining sanctions model)Adopt a formal Government Ratification Roadmap: 5 conventions in 5 years (2025-2030). Priority: C131 (2025); C097/C143 (2025); C156 (Workers with Family Responsibilities, 2026); C168 (Unemployment Protection, 2027); C154 (Collective Bargaining Promotion, 2028). Each ratification accompanied by legislative alignment plan. Annual reporting to Parliament.
ILO ratification roadmap model · Moldova (convention ratification plan) · Armenia (ILO ratification strategy)Georgia reports to ILO supervisory bodies but does not publish a national compliance self-assessment. GILS to produce annual 'Georgia ILO Compliance Report': rating each ratified convention as Green (compliant), Amber (partial), or Red (significant gap); citing CEACR findings; recommending legislative actions. First edition: Q1 2026. Distributed to Parliament, MLHSA, EU Delegation, and ILO.
ITUC Global Rights Index methodology · ILO NORMLEX data · GILS analytical capacity| Convention / Standard | Subject | Ratified | Compliance | Key Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C087 | Freedom of Association | 1993 | CEACR Observation 2024 | Anti-union dismissal unpunished; union membership suppressed |
| C098 | Collective Bargaining | 1993 | CEACR Observation 2024 | 5% coverage; employer refusal to bargain unsanctioned |
| C131 | Minimum Wage Fixing | Not ratified | n/a | GEL 20 minimum wage; no consultation mechanism |
| C097/C143 | Labour Migration | Not ratified | n/a | 1.5M Georgians abroad; irregular migrants unprotected |