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How Trade Unions Around the World Attract New Members: General Confederation of Trade Unions Holds Discussion at the "World" Platform of the "Trade Unions. XXIst Century" Forum
The challenge of increasing trade union membership is relevant for union organizations worldwide. Trade unions in different countries are constantly searching for effective tools to engage new members, said Margarita Usova, Deputy General Secretary of the General Confederation of Trade Unions (GCTU).
"As our colleagues around the world say, the truth is that only a negligible number of workers join unions for ideological or class reasons. The rest want to see daily, tangible personal benefits from joining a union," Usova reported on October 10th during the VII Intellectual Forum "Trade Unions. XXIst Century. Motives and Incentives."
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Protection for Taxi Drivers, Couriers, and Freelancers: The General Confederation of Trade Unions Supports the Adoption of the CIS Model Law "On Platform Employment"
The draft for the law "On Platform Employment" was approved during a general meeting of the Standing Commission on Economics and Finance of the Interparliamentary Assembly of the CIS. The document will be sent to the parliaments of CIS member states for feedback, comments, and suggestions. The meeting took place on October 9 in St. Petersburg, chaired by Alexey Sandikov, a member of the National Assembly Standing Commission of the Republic of Armenia on Regional Issues and Eurasian Integration. The discussion was attended by MPs from CIS countries, scholars, and other experts. The General Confederation of Trade Unions was represented by Deputy General Secretary Natalia Podshibyakina.
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Third Congress of the Confederation of Labor of Kazakhstan Held in Almaty
Forty delegates participated in the Third Congress of the Confederation of Labor of Kazakhstan (CLK), held on September 19 in Almaty. The event brought together representatives from sectoral trade unions affiliated with the CLK, as well as officials from the Ministry of Labor of Kazakhstan, the "Amanat" Trade Union Association, and the General Confederation of Trade Unions.
GCTU news
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Technology Must Serve People: GCTU Statement for World Day for Decent Work
Workers' rights must evolve alongside technology. This is the key message of the statement released by the General Confederation of Trade Unions (GCTU) «For the World Day for Decent Work! » on October 7.
"Digitalization and artificial intelligence are transforming the world of work. We demand that employers and governments guarantee that technological advancement is matched by social progress. We insist on closing the legal loopholes that leave entire categories of workers unprotected – such as dependent contractors, platform workers, and the self-employed," the document states.
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"Youth of the CIS – For Higher Wages!": GCTU Youth Council Sets Slogan for World Day for Decent Work
"Youth of the CIS – For Higher Wages!" has been selected as the official slogan by the Youth Council of the General Confederation of Trade Unions (GCTU) for its participation in the World Day for Decent Work on October 7, 2025. The decision was approved at a regular meeting of the Youth Council held on September 30. For the Day of Action, the GCTU Youth Council participants plan to launch a media campaign across social networks. Materials featuring the slogan and photographs of campaign participants will be published on the pages of trade union leaders and within trade union communities.
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GCTU General Secretary Attends CIS Heads of State Council Meeting
On September 29, Minsk hosted a regular meeting of the CIS Heads of State Council, with a primary focus on expanding trade, economic, scientific and technological cooperation among the Commonwealth nations. The meeting’s agenda featured 15 items.
News from member organizations
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Belarusian Unions Step Up Fight Against Workplace Injuries
The main causes of workplace injuries were discussed at a meeting of the Presidium of the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus. Occupational safety was a key topic of the session held on September 24th in Minsk.
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Social Partnership and International Cooperation Discussed at the 9th Congress of the International Union Federation of Housing and Communal Services, Local Industry, and Service Sector Workers
Delegates of the 9th Congress of the International Union Federation of Housing and Communal Services, Local Industry, and Service Sector Workers discussed the fight for fair wages, the role of trade unions in addressing labor shortages, and the development of social partnership. The Congress took place on September 23rd in Moscow, with representatives from trade unions in Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan in attendance.
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Experience, Tradition, and Modern Approaches: Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia Celebrates 35th Anniversary
Experience, tradition, and continuity across generations form a solid foundation for the future development of Russia’s trade unions. This was stated by a State Duma Deputy and General Secretary of the General Confederation of Trade Unions Viktor Pinsky at the ceremonial General Council meeting of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia (FNPR).
CIS and EAEU labor market news
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International Labour Organization Calls for Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in Employment
Artificial intelligence (AI) is creating new tools and opportunities for the employment of persons with disabilities. However, its application requires careful oversight and regulation. An article on the opportunities and challenges of AI in the field of employment has been published on the International Labour Organization (ILO) website.
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Russia Proposes Raising Minimum Wage by Over 20%
The Russian Ministry of Labour and Social Protection has proposed increasing the minimum wage (MW) to 27,093 rubles starting in 2026, according to a statement released by the ministry’s press service.
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Pensions and Social Benefits to Be Indexed in Kazakhstan in 2026
Substantial expenditures for pensions and social benefit payments have been allocated in Kazakhstan’s state budget for 2026. A total of 6.8 trillion tenge is to be directed toward the indexation of pensions and social benefits.