On Friday, April 5, AS VALMIERAS STIKLA ŠĶIEDRA and the Latvian Industrial Workers Trade Union re-signed the general agreement of the glass fibre industry.
The purpose of this General Agreement is to promote mutual collaboration in the development of social dialogue to ensure labour rights, labour protection, labour productivity and favourable social environment for employees and enable sustainable and competitive growth of the glass fibre industry and regulation of the business environment.
“This is like an umbrella document that symbolizes mutual cooperation between the company and the Latvian Industrial Workers Trade Union and the advancement of common interests. The biggest value for both parties is the employees, so by cooperating we want to create a greater guarantee of safety for the employees of our industry, as well as jointly advance the issues of necessary improvements in the legislation. Already within the framework of the previous General Agreement, we held several interesting meetings within the framework of social dialogue, and we are committed to continue meeting to mutually exchange current affairs, major problems, and achievements. By concluding the General Agreement, we, on behalf of the industry, guarantee that we will pay our employees a higher salary than the minimum wage set by the state, setting the minimum wage at three qualification levels. On the other hand, the Latvian Industrial Workers Trade Union is our partner in order to pass on current affairs and proposed amendments to the legislation to the state's decision-making institutions. The general agreement will help us solve the problem of labour shortage, because with the changes in the legislation, we will finally be able to employ citizens of third countries with the same wages as our local residents. We appreciate that we were approached for such mutual cooperation, and only by uniting and following a common path for all parties involved, we can achieve a common goal and listening ears!” AS VALMIERAS STIKLA ŠĶIEDRA director Dace Purmale says.
The General Agreement will come into effect in three months after its publication in the official bulletin of the Republic of Latvia Latvijas Vēstnesis and will be binding for three years from its effective date.
Please see general agreement document HERE.