Confederation of Trade Unions of Armenia organized two days Regional workshop on 5-6 August, 2025 in Yerevan, Armenia, with the financial support of ILO ACTRAV.
Trade Union leaders and activists were participating from Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan.
The workshop was on the theme on "Trade Unions and transition: shaping the future of workers".
The opening remarks were maid by Sergeyus Glovackas -Desk officer for Europe and Central Asia ILO/ACTRAV, Elen Manaseryan -CTUA president, Ruben Sargsyan- Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, Igor Zubcu- PERC President.
In their opening speech all speakers emphasized that digitalization, platform work and AI became part of everyday life and no one can escape of it as the workers cannot live in other reality than now. So the trade unions should be modernized and use the opportunities of AI and digitalization.
The Deputy Minister introduced the reforms made in the Armenian legislation concerning the digitalization especially the electronic labor contracts which will come into force in 2026.
The participants of all countries introduced Trade Union experience and the situation in their countries.
Unlike other countries where the Unions are trying to work in the digitalized work, the Ukraine Trade Unions have to survive in the situation of war and everyday battles.
Micheal Watt-ILO ACTRAV economist and workers’ specialist had presentations on New technologies and business models: platform workers, where the participants also showed their experience on work with platform workers.
During the session the participants were informed also the ILO approach on platform workers and the opportunity of having new standard on it.
PERC president Igor Zubcu and ITUC representative Anna Salnikova presented the approach of International Trade Union Confederation and the steps ahead.
On the second day the participants were introduced the AI influence on the labor market. The session was moderated by Gocha Aleksandria, who shared international experience. Later the session was continued by Micheal Watt who presented the workers’ rights on data collecting and data protection. Each delegation shared their own experience.
After every session active discussions were held.
In the last session the participants worked in the groups where developed their own plans of activities and had relevant and useful proposals.