What are the steps for an early solution to the crisis ILO?
Olga Kulaeva: We are talking about four pillars that make up a complex political decisions. The first is to stimulate the economy. This can be done in different ways, for example, those which chose the Russian government. The country has a big advantage: stable finances, low external debt, significant fiscal space. The second is to encourage enterprises to preserve jobs and income. Decisions can be painful – is, reduced shifts. But they are necessary. Third – the protection of workers in the workplace, ranging from physical protection against coronavirus and dangerous factors of production, ending with the availability of paid leave. Fourth, social dialogue.
What is “social dialogue”?
Olga Kulaeva: This is the approach on which the ILO is the whole century of its existence. Decisions are made at the consultations of the government, employers and workers organizations. In this sense, Russia is in a very good situation – there are strong employers ‘ organizations, trade unions, works well with the trilateral Commission. Such structures can develop the optimal scheme. In the West there was an example when one industry lost part of the download and the enterprise began to work at 60% capacity. The workers then announced that they understand all the difficulties, but 60% of the salary just to live, they need at least 80%. Employers went to meet them, the rest of the paid working time spent on lessons on safety. The state introduced partial unemployment benefits to compensate for these disputed 20% of the income of the staff. And lasted up to the time until the download is resumed. When the orders came, all the people are trained and willing to work – left on the ground. This scheme to stay hard times are close to optimal.
People in the labour market should be responsible for themselves?
Olga Kulaeva: People should formalize their communication with the employer and pay taxes. In response, the government will protect his labour rights and help you get through the periods when he is left without income. It may occur not only in the crisis: almost all of us several times in career change the employer is not always output to a new place on the same day. If people work informally, now, for example, one simply can not know that he lost his income and in what amount, respectively, it is unclear how and what to support it and whether there is a need. And, there is the platform economy, it is actively developing and growing. People voluntarily want to work, being independent and carrying out orders. This includes programmers and freelancery, and copywriters, and taxi drivers that collaborate with the aggregators. Therefore, their rights must also be protected.
Suggested coronavirus whether the crisis is a recipe for how we should live?
Olga Kulaeva: you Know, when I sit in a taxi, always ask the driver how much he has to work. Days per week or hours per day. And the answer did not suit me. Due to the fact that the taxi driver is too long behind the wheel of suffering and its rights, and passengers. First and foremost, on security. Similar problems arise in many professions and in all countries. They are trying to solve in different ways, but the perfect pattern, I have not yet met. I would like to in building the “new normality” was taken into account all the gains of mankind in the field of human rights. This is a common approach that will unravel the whole tangle of problems now facing the labour market, and will prevent many possible new troubles.
Can you describe the portrait of a typical affected by the current crisis of the employee?
Olga Kulaeva: first, it is older workers and people with impaired health. Them, including in Russia, there are limitations on return to work. Yes, they pay for sick leave. But soon this problem could spread to the labour market. But this category of citizens to find a new job significantly more difficult than the others. Another category are young people. We conducted a survey of 13 thousand people from 18 to 29 years, including in the countries of our region and in Russia. More than one in six of those respondents who worked in February, in April for a work out. Not necessarily this person became unemployed: options can be very different. But their revenue they might lose. And those who continued to work, announced the reduction of working time and, hence, income in the middle 20%. According to statistics, everyone who at a young age encountered such inactive periods, then suffered for a long time lost in time the skills, qualifications and competencies.
What is the office protected from the coronavirus?
Olga Kulaeva: nothing new Here – the distance between the employees, transparent partitions, American Cuba. If the office employs two people, they can come in shifts: week one works from home, a week or two. Of course, I wonder how new York or in Moscow-city people in skyscrapers will use the lift… But it’s all forced measures, they must be respected.
Is the mode of reduced shifts, forced leaves is a normal response options of employers in the current situation?
Olga Kulaeva: Is is. We are from mid-March working from home. I must say, loads have not diminished. Business trips do not go, but POStoano in touch with the Ministers of labour and employers ‘ associations, and trade unions all ten countries, which is responsible for our office. I think this format quite caught on, and it can be fixed for a long time. Another story is shorter working days and compulsory leave. But there is a double task – it is necessary simultaneously to save both the employees and employers. Closed shop or restaurant, no revenue, hence, to pay workers nothing. This is the least problematic, the main thing here is to find a balance of interests.
the Employer may simply force us all to convenient solution. Who will protect the rights of the staff?
Olga Kulaeva: On labor. The crisis made obvious the fact that without the observance of rules of labor protection we will not survive as a species. Now we slowly start to return to their offices, to production. And there will be at least another six months to comply with all sanitary rules – otherwise there is a risk of recurrence of the pandemic. Because of this, the theme of labour protection goes to the top level priorities and employers, and governments. Protection of rights should be a red line through all the measures. From our current reactions depends on how long and deep will this recession. In this sense, an interesting global trend that has appeared in Russia – the extension of the powers of governments to promptly solve urgent issues. Sometimes even contrary to existing laws. But then when the emergency is passed, regulation would return. And to deal with problems and conflict can have on work. Because it is intended more to help than to punish.
