Trade unions play a critical role in protecting workers' rights, promoting social justice and fair working conditions. Armenia, as a party to several key international conventions, including the European Social Charter, has committed to upholding these rights. However, there are still remaining gaps in harmonising national legislation with the European standards.
Aiming to promote the trade unions’ rights in line with the European standards, the Council of Europe hosted a workshop to present the newly released report “International Standards and Best Practices on the Rights of Trade Unions”. The event served as a valuable platform for discussion on advancing trade unions’ rights in Armenia.
The report, developed under the Council of Europe project “Enhancing Social Human Rights in Armenia”, offers a comprehensive roadmap for reform. It reviews key legal instruments such as the European Social Charter and the European Convention on Human Rights, offering practical recommendations for aligning the legislative gaps in the protection of the trade unions of Armenia.
Professionals from the Human Rights Defender’s Office of Armenia, national trade union organisations, civil society, and relevant public authorities focused their discussion on key aspects such as trade union formation, the right to collective bargaining, and the right to strike. Participants also explored the practical steps to strengthen legislative and institutional frameworks protecting trade union rights.
With a new draft law on trade unions currently under consideration in Armenia, the report is expected to serve as a crucial reference for lawmakers and stakeholders shaping the future of labour rights in the country.
The event proved to be an important milestone in strengthening co-operation between Armenian institutions and European partners to ensure the full protection of trade union rights in line with European best practices.
The workshop was organised by the Council of Europe in the framework of its project “Enhancing Social Human Rights in Armenia” implemented within the Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia 2023-2026.