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Georgian PM Launches Int’l Tourism Fair FITUR 2021 with King and Queen of Spain in Madrid

BY ANA DUMBADZE

Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia, started his visit to the Kingdom of Spain on May 19.

He toured the International Tourism Exhibition ‘FITUR 2021’, hosted by the IFEMA Exhibition Center, together with King Felipe VI of Spain and Queen Letizia, where Georgia is participating as a partner country. They also attended a performance by the Georgian Folk Dance Academy "Georgia", founded by the Diaspora in Spain.

The President of the FITUR International Committee and the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Exhibition Center addressed the participants at the opening ceremony.

The visiting delegation led by the Prime Minister of Georgia, included David Zalkaliani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia; Natia Turnava, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia; and Levan Davitashvili, Minister of Environment and Agriculture of Georgia.

Almost 100 countries are participating in the international exhibition this year. Georgia is represented there with a showcase stand, a designated space that allows international tour operators, travel agencies and media representatives to get more information about Georgia's tourism attractions and travel destinations. The fair's main video-screen shows visitors videos about Georgia, giving them a chance to learn more about Georgia's tourism products. Banners displaying Georgia's tourism potential adorn the international fair's entrance and exit areas, while informative banners are installed on every sidewalk.

PM Garibashvili, accompanied by the World Tourism Organization's SecretaryGeneral Zurab Pololikashvili and members of the country's executive and legislative branches, familiarized himself with the Georgian tourism stand.

“This international tourism fair is effectively a message heralding the world's gradual return to normal life, and we, among others, must be ready to host tourists actively,” the Georgian PM stated.

He noted that vaccination, management of the epidemiological situation, and citizens' responsible attitude are key in this direction. "It is a great honor to be featured in Spain, at the FITUR fair. As you know, the event showcases about 100 countries, including us in a prominent spot. This event is a message heralding the world's gradual return to a normal life, and we, among others, must be ready to host tourists actively. Of course, vaccination, management of the epidemiological situation and control, and our citizens' responsible attitude are key in this direction. We are very optimistic, and the whole world is motivated to return to life as usual, and we will all be ready to host tourists in Georgia together," Garibashvili said.

As part of his offi cial visit, the Prime Minister of Georgia met Meritxell Batet, President of the Congress of Deputies. Relations between the two nations in various areas, including that of the legislative authorities, were among the key topics discussed during the meeting.

It was noted that Georgia has close and productive cooperation with the Kingdom of Spain and that it is essential to deepen this. Prospects of future steps towards parliamentary diplomacy were reviewed at the meeting, and the organization of a joint parliamentary forum of economic committees between Spain and Georgia was initiated towards this end. It is intended to establish a format tailored to the discussion of crucial issues.

The signifi cance of the support demonstrated by the Kingdom of Spain towards Georgia in every parliamentary assembly, related to the occupied territories and integration into the European and Euro-Atlantic institutions, was highlighted.

Attention was focused at the meeting on the role played by Georgia in the region and future steps to be made towards facilitating and intensifying the economic cooperation between the two countries, as well as towards advancing the people-to-people and cultural connections.

The meeting held at the Congress of Deputies in Spain was attended by David Zalkaliani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia; MP David Songhulashvili, Chairman of the Sectoral Economy and Economic Policy Committee at the Parliament of Georgia; and H.E. Ilia Giorgadze, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to the Kingdom of Spain.

The Head of Government of Georgia made a keynote entry into the Book of Honorary Guests deposited at the Congress of Deputies in the Kingdom of Spain.

Employment Agency on Georgian Workers in Germany: Concrete Measures Have Been Taken to Improve their Conditions

BY KETEVAN SKHIRTLADZE

The Georgian Trade Union Confederation this week published a statement, reporting that the 24 citizens who left Georgia for Germany for seasonal work are in “diffi cult working conditions.”

The GTUC notes in the statement that the employed citizens are not receiving the promised remuneration, with their given salary being 3 Euros instead of the promised 9 Euros per hour. They claim the unbearable living conditions in which the Georgian citizens are expected to live are even more alarming.

“The union requests the German Ambassador study the issue, and the Minister of Labor and Health of Georgia Ekaterine Tikradze take an immediate interest in the situation of the Georgian citizens because the Employment Promotion Agency of the Ministry of Labor was the organizer of their trip to Germany.

“The Labor Inspectorate of Georgia should also get acquainted with the current situation, as it concerns citizens of Georgia. The unions will, in turn, provide the information received to the partner German trade unions in response,” the statement read.

The State Employment Promotion Agency responded to the GTUC statement regarding the diffi cult conditions of citizens who left Georgia for employment in seasonal jobs.

The Employment Agency noted that they share the concern expressed by one of the groups that traveled to the Federal Republic of Germany within the framework of the Georgian Labor Force Employment Agreement. The agency stated that separate issues should be resolved with the German side.

“We confi rm that there was dissatisfaction on the part of the representatives of one group due to the violation of the conditions offered by the employer in the job description. Regarding this, the fi rst contact with the German side was made by the State Employment Promotion Agency upon receiving the information.

The Georgian side has already received information from the Employment Agency of the Federal Republic of Germany that specifi c measures have been taken to improve the conditions of a particular group, which is obviously the result of the active work of the Georgian side.

Most importantly, based on the agreement between Germany and Georgia and the terms of the job offer, the employer agreed to pay the correct, agreed-upon hourly wages to employees from Georgia.

If the given conditions are not met, the Georgian side demands the redistribution of members of this particular group to other employers,” the statement reads.

The German Ambassador to Georgia, Hubert Knirsch, also responded to the statement issued by the Georgian Trade Union Confederation, assuring them that all conditions stipulated in the agreement have been met.

"After the spread of information by the Georgian media, referring to a group employed for seasonal work on a strawberry farm, I talked to the German authorities about this issue. In accordance with the rules, the agencies have ensured that all the conditions stipulated in the contract are met, including the provision of suitable housing. In Germany, a minimum wage of 9.5 Euros is guaranteed.

Problems can occur everywhere. The main thing is to solve them quickly. It is good that information about this case was spread in the media. I hope that the successful implementation of the program will be covered with the same attention," said the German Ambassador.

At the beginning of April, it was announced that 5000 citizens of Georgia would be able to be legally employed in seasonal work in Germany’s Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture from May. The decision was made due to the high interest of Georgian citizens. By April 2, more than 97 thousand Georgians had expressed their desire to work in Germany.

Source of photo: bpn.ge