Technology Must Serve People: GCTU Statement for World Day for Decent Work
"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.
The GCTU emphasizes that the digital economy is built upon traditional industries, from manufacturing to healthcare and education. The principle that "no one who works should live in poverty" must be the foundation of every state's policy.
On October 7, 2025, trade unions worldwide will hold actions in support of decent work for the 18th time. The GCTU calls on its member organizations to actively mark this date and hold events in any relevant format – from marches and rallies to media campaigns.
"The voice of the trade unions must be heard in workplaces, in cities and villages, in the mass media and on social networks," the GCTU asserts.
The General Confederation of Trade Unions calls on trade union leaders and activists to participate in actions under the following slogans:
Decent Work – Fair Wages: No one who works should live in poverty!
Technology must serve people, not deprive them of their rights!
Protect the rights of all workers: from traditional industries to digital platforms!
Social justice for migrant workers – the duty of a civilized society!
Our strength is in solidarity: Together for decent work and respect for workers' rights!
GCTU News
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For trade unions, March 8 is not just a day of spring and renewal.
For trade unions, March 8 is not just a day of spring and renewal.
For trade unions, March 8 is not merely a day of spring and renewal. Above all, it is an opportunity to once again reflect on the role of women in the world of work and in global development as a whole. Today, women perform 55% of the world’s total labor. They work longer hours than men—by 6 to 13 hours per week—and still earn less: on average, women’s wages amount to 66–84% of men’s wages, depending on the country. There is objective evidence that the more a country values women’s labor and the smaller the gender pay gap, the more developed its economy. A special issue is the “invisibility” of women’s domestic and, as experts call it, reproductive labor. This is why trade unions should continue to fight for justice for working women.
I congratulate all women of the CIS, my colleagues in the parliamentary corps, and women in trade unions on International Women’s Day. I wish you justice, decent work, success, and prosperity!
Viktor Pinsky
General Secretary of the General Confederation of Trade Unions, Member of the State Duma
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General Confederation of Trade Unions Proposes Securing Trade Union Rights in Enterprise Bankruptcy
General Confederation of Trade Unions Proposes Securing Trade Union Rights in Enterprise Bankruptcy
The General Confederation of Trade Unions’ (GCTU) proposals are reflected in the draft CIS model law “On Cross-Border Insolvency and Bankruptcy.”
Trade unions must have the right to represent and protect workers’ interests in the bankruptcy of international companies, according to Viktor Pinsky, Member of the State Duma of the Russian Federation and General Secretary of the GCTU.
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GCTU Launches International Educational Program “Regulation of Labor Relations Based on Social Dialogue Principles”
GCTU Launches International Educational Program “Regulation of Labor Relations Based on Social Dialogue Principles”
The program is designed for specialists and trade union activists involved in collective bargaining at all levels of social partnership. It consists of four modules and will include about two hundred participants from six countries.
The first module—a lecture session—will be held on March 3, 2026. Leading experts from the General Confederation of Trade Unions, educational organizations of four national trade union centers (Belarus, Kyrgyz Republic, Russia, and Uzbekistan), and Lomonosov Moscow State University will deliver lectures.