On the 6 – 7 May 2015, leaders of StreetNet Affiliates from Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova and Ukraine met in Moldova for their Regional Meeting and to launch StreetNet’s New Manifesto Campaign.

Moldova-Business-Sind hosted the event in Chisinau (Moldova). Oksana Abboud, StreetNet Organiser for Europe and Asia facilitated the regional meeting.

Petru Chiriak, Vice-Chairman of the Confederation of Trade Unions of Moldova and Svetlana Boichan, an IUF Representative who also attended the meeting, welcomed participants and shared their experience in the field of informal economy.

During the first day of the meeting, Oksana Abboud presented a New Manifesto Campaign, its aims, tasks and expectations. The participants while working in groups were asked to develop an Action Plan on Campaign implementation in their own countries.

Affiliates also shared their main challenges and successes, drawing particular attention to collective bargaining and social protection issues.

The Regional Focal Point for Europe was also under discussion. Participants had to decide and chose a focal point among three affiliates from Azerbaijan, Georgia and Moldova.

The following day was dedicated to the upcoming ILO Conference 2015 and the discussion of the Draft ILO Recommendation. Participants analysed the draft Recommendation and the discussion was based on the WIEGO Platform on transitioning from the informal to formal economy and StreetNet’s proposals regarding the draft Recommendation.

All participants expressed their gratitude to the event organisers for the opportunity to meet each other and to build joint plans in the region.

Article written by Oksana Abboud
StreetNet Organiser for Europe and Asia