Trade Union Confederation · Georgia
The GTUC is the largest trade union confederation in Georgia, representing approximately 220,000 members across 26 affiliated sector unions. It is the principal worker representative in the Tripartite Social Partnership Commission and the ILO’s recognised worker partner in Georgia. The GTUC is an ITUC (International Trade Union Confederation) affiliate.
Established as successor to the Soviet Georgian Trade Union Council following independence.
Joined the International Trade Union Confederation (then ICFTU), gaining international recognition and solidarity network access.
GTUC advocated for ILO-standard collective bargaining provisions during the 2006 Labour Code reform — securing some protections but not binding collective agreement enforcement.
GTUC participation in DCFTA civil society consultations secured reinstatement rights provisions and collective dismissal protections in the updated Labour Code.
Launched internal reform programme; grew membership from approximately 180,000 to 220,000 members over five years.
GTUC documented labour conditions of Russian nationals working informally in Georgia and called for formal employment protection extension.
Unprecedented bipartite statement with the Georgian Employers Association calling for minimum wage reform — a historic moment of employer-union consensus.
GTUC is the formal worker representative in all ILO tripartite structures operating in Georgia. It nominates the nine worker-side members of the Tripartite Social Partnership Commission and represents Georgian workers in ITUC’s international advocacy and reporting.
GTUC’s policy priorities centre on minimum wage reform, collective bargaining coverage expansion, and occupational health and safety enforcement. On minimum wage, GTUC has publicly called for a GEL 700+ monthly minimum — significantly above the current statutory minimum. The 2024 joint statement with GEA represents a breakthrough: for the first time, Georgia’s principal worker and employer bodies have aligned on the need for minimum wage reform.
GTUC is a credible and functional trade union body operating within the constraints of Georgia’s limited collective bargaining framework. Its ITUC affiliation provides genuine international accountability and access to comparative expertise. The 2024 minimum wage joint statement with GEA demonstrates that GTUC has the institutional capacity for pragmatic bipartite cooperation — an important signal for EU accession-related social dialogue strengthening.
The critical gap is coverage. GTUC cannot advocate effectively for informal workers, agricultural workers, or the majority of SME employees — the groups most exposed to labour rights violations. Expanding GTUC’s sectoral reach into construction, hospitality, and domestic work would significantly strengthen Georgia’s overall social dialogue architecture.
GILS supports GTUC’s minimum wage advocacy position and calls for legislative reform to strengthen collective bargaining enforcement mechanisms. Extension of union rights to informal and platform workers should be a GTUC legislative priority for the EU accession period.
How this organisation fits into Georgia’s broader labour market governance structure.