During the last decade, trade union density through Europe has declined significantly and Latvia is not an exemption. Low trade union density leads to weaker social dialogue and cooperation and ability to represent workers’ rights at different levels of social partnership, as well as implementing the decent work agenda. Hence, the main target of the project was to come back to the main roots of the decent work agenda and provide information and guidance on employees rights and obligations.
Project activities focused on raising awareness on labour rights and obligations through trade unions work and providing access to information. One of the reasons for the low trade unions capacity to fight against undeclared work and social dumpling so far, is low trust to trade unions within society. According to the latest survey at the start of the project, only 7.2% of society trusted trade unions. At the same time, a survey indicated the highest shadow economy (17.1% in 2017) and undeclared work (7.4% in 2017) between Baltic countries. The density of trade unions fell significantly during the last decade mainly due the economic crisis when many workers left the country and migrated looking for better working conditions abroad. Besides, many enterprises reduced their number of employees due to the economic crisis and also as a consequence of digitalisation. At the same time, employers and foreign investors more and more emphasised that they face significant lack of workforce and borders of Latvia should be opened with easier conditions to invite workforce from the third countries what leads to social dumping in several cases. At this time trade unions should be stronger and should fight more against undeclared work and social dumpling and inform employees on their rights and obligations through raise awareness campaigns and more active and visible trade unions work.