On April 29–30 in Brussels, a delegation from the Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Kazakhstan (FTURK), headed by Chairman Satybaldy Dauletalin, participated in a meeting of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) dedicated to the preparation of the VERC Summer School of the ITUC, which is scheduled to take place in Astana in July.
During the event, organizational and technical issues were discussed, and the themes of the breakout sessions were defined. The participants of the meeting approved the agenda of the VERC Summer School in Astana: “Workplace Democracy, Collective Bargaining.”
At a meeting with ETUC political adviser Lorenzo Repetti, the parties discussed cooperation between European trade unions and trade unions of Central Asian countries, joint promotion of democratic principles and trade union freedoms, as well as the preparatory steps for the Summer School in the capital of Kazakhstan.
During a meeting between the Kazakhstani delegation and ITUC General Secretary Luc Triangle, issues of promoting a new social contract, principles of social justice, protection of trade union rights and freedoms, and the participation of trade unions in collective bargaining were discussed.
FTURK Chairman Satybaldy Dauletalin spoke about Kazakhstan’s involvement in solidarity actions and campaigns conducted by the ITUC, as well as current work related to wage policy, ensuring labor safety and protection, and proposed amendments to the Labour Code.
In response, Luc Triangle expressed hope for the FTURK’s active role in advancing the values of the international trade union movement, social justice, and democratic principles in Central Asia, identifying Kazakhstan as a key driver of these processes in the region.
Organizational aspects of the Summer School in Astana were further elaborated during meetings with VERC Executive Secretary Anton Leppik and VERC Senior Adviser Goda Neverauskaitė.
At a meeting with Julia Lagana, Director of the Department for Just Transition and Climate, the parties discussed climate change, the creation of green jobs, just transition policies, and the role of trade unions in these processes.
In a discussion with Paapa Danquah, Director of the Legal Department, issues related to the realization of freedom of association, international labor standards, and the protection of human rights were addressed.
As part of the FTURK delegation’s working visit, meetings were also held with representatives of Belgian trade unions — International Secretary of the Belgian Labour Federation Raphaël Lamas, Head of the International Department of the Liberal Trade Unions of Belgium Marisa Le Roux, and Head of the International Department of the Confederation of Christian Trade Unions of Belgium Carine Debroe.
The Belgian colleagues shared information about their activities and experience in establishing social dialogue, measures for wage indexation in Belgium, collective bargaining procedures, actions to protect workers’ interests, provision of legal assistance to union members, and work with youth and women.
The parties agreed to develop cooperation between the Kazakhstani and Belgian national trade union centers by strengthening collaboration on the promotion of a just transition, exchanging best practices, and sharing experiences in building social dialogue in Kazakhstan and Belgium.
