Chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Vice-President of the Pan-European Regional Council of the International Trade Union Confederation (PERC ITUC), Satybaldy Dauletalin, took part in a meeting of the PERC Steering Committee.
The participants reviewed the current activities of PERC, preparations for the meeting of the Executive Committee and the General Assembly, as well as the Regional Council’s plans for 2027. The agenda included issues of cooperation with the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), social dialogue, the digitalisation of work, occupational safety and health, and international trade union cooperation.
The meeting also addressed preparations for the election of the Director-General of the ILO. Three candidates have been nominated for the position: current ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo, Deputy Prime Minister of Spain and Minister of Labour and Social Economy Yolanda Díaz Pérez, and former Foreign Minister of Peru Javier González-Olaechea Franco.
On 23 September, a public interactive dialogue with all three candidates was held in Geneva. They presented their vision for the future development of the ILO and answered questions from representatives of governments, workers and employers.
The PERC Steering Committee discussed the upcoming election procedure and its significance for the future work of the ILO, the development of international labour standards and social dialogue.
According to the schedule approved by the ILO, hearings with the candidates will be held at the meeting of the ILO Governing Body on 9 November 2026. The election of the Director-General by secret ballot will take place on 16 November. The new Director-General is expected to take office on 1 October 2027.
The participants also discussed the development of social dialogue in the region in light of economic, technological and geopolitical changes. The discussion focused on cooperation between workers, employers and the state in developing policies and decisions in the areas of labour, employment and the protection of workers’ rights.
The meeting agenda also included issues related to the digital transformation of the labour market. PERC continues to develop the trade union movement’s position on artificial intelligence, automated systems and new forms of employment, including platform work. These issues were discussed at PERC events during the first half of 2026.
Members of the Steering Committee reviewed PERC’s activities within the ILO, the outcomes of the International Labour Conference and issues related to the application of international labour standards. They also discussed the protection of workers’ rights in times of crisis, peace and resilience, as well as international trade union cooperation.
During the meeting, members of the Steering Committee were presented with a report on the activities of the PERC Sarajevo Office for April–June 2026. During this period, the office worked with trade unions in Bosnia and Herzegovina on occupational safety and health, social dialogue and cooperation with international organisations.
As part of the PERC–Union to Union project in Bosnia and Herzegovina, seminars and expert meetings were held on occupational safety and health in the transport, construction and housing and utilities sectors. Participants addressed the prevention of occupational injuries, assessment of occupational risks, the activities of labour inspectorates and the role of trade unions in ensuring safe and healthy working conditions.
The regional agenda is directly linked to the priorities of trade union work in Kazakhstan, including occupational safety and workers’ health, digitalisation and the use of artificial intelligence in the world of work, the development of social dialogue, international labour standards and a just transition.
Chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Kazakhstan and PERC Vice-President Satybaldy Dauletalin participates in the work of the Regional Council and in discussions on the common trade union agenda. This format of cooperation makes it possible to take into account the experience of trade union organisations from different countries when addressing issues related to labour relations and the protection of workers’ rights.
In 2027, PERC will continue its work in these areas. The immediate priorities include preparations for the General Assembly, cooperation with the ILO and ITUC, and further work on social dialogue, occupational safety and the protection of workers’ rights.
FTURK Trade Union Communications Centre