By Sabina Mammadli and Elmeddin Shamilzade
Photos by Elmeddin Shamilzade
TBILISI, Dec 21 (Tbilisi Times) - The pressing issue of low minimum wages in Georgia lacks a clear and definitive resolution strategy from the government, according to Nino Tsagareishvili, a lawyer and researcher at the Social Justice Center.
Press conference which dedicated to the issues of labor strikes and wages in Georgia held in Tbilisi's loata Hotel on December 21
Tsagareishvili was a speaker at a press conference held at Tbilisi's Ioata Hotel on December 21. She highlighted the absence of a concrete vision from the Georgian government in addressing labor strikes and the plight of minimum wages.
"International human rights law and standards dictate that the minimum wage should ensure decent remuneration, meeting the basic and social welfare needs of every employee," said Tsagareishvili.
Speakers, from right Anano Tsintsabadze, Salome Shubladze, Nino Tsagarushvili, Keti Sarthania
She underscored the failure of the current minimum wage in Georgia to align with international standards, pointing out its inadequacy in addressing basic employee needs or even subsisting for minimum necessities. Regarding government actions to alleviate these issues, Tsagareishvili said the existence of specific formats within the government purportedly aimed at creating systematic approaches to solve these problems.
"For instance, the social partnership commission under the government is one such format,” said Tsagareishvili. “However, despite its formal existence, it is not functionally operational. These critical issues remain largely neglected by the government."
According to the Georgia Department of Labor, the country's minimum wage stands at $5.15 per hour. However, it's noteworthy that with some limited exceptions, the federal minimum wage rate applies.
Press conference which dedicated to the issues of labor strikes and wages
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