In May this year The Board of the Gdańsk Region NSZZ „Solidarność” started the implementation of the project „Social dialogue – key to development” financed from Norwegian funds.

The „Social dialogue – key to development” project is devoted to the dissemination of the principles of social dialogue among Polish employers and organizations representing employees. Unfortunately, in our country still many employers do not see the benefits that give the company partner relations between the employer and employees. Our project is part of activities aimed at replacing this pretended social dialogue with real dialogue – says Jagna Łobodzińska, Head of the European Programs Department of Gdansk Region of NSZZ “Solidarnosc”

The project is financed by Norway through Norwegian Funds 2014-2021 under the Social Dialogue – Decent Work program. It is a form of non-returnable assistance granted by Norway to European Union Member States, including Poland. The project implementation is in line with the objectives of the EEA and Norwegian funds, consisting in joint action for a „green, competitive and inclusive Europe. The Gdańsk Region of NSZZ „S” received funding in the amount of 180 thousand Euro for the implementation of the project.

As part of the project, negotiation training will be conducted, meetings with representatives of trade unions and employer organizations, during which social dialogue will be analyzed in Poland. Exchange of experience between Polish and Norwegian trade unions in the field of social dialogue is also planned. Conferences will also be organized to disseminate project results to representatives of trade unions and employers’ organizations. Politicians will also be invited, who will be presented, prepared as part of the project, proposals for changes that should be implemented to improve the functioning of social dialogue in Poland.

The project will describe social dialogue in Norway, which belongs to countries with a strong tradition of social dialogue and negotiating decent working conditions, which in turn translates into greater competitiveness and better coping with the challenges of the changing world of work.

Analysis of the model of functioning of social dialogue in Norway will be the basis for recommending changes that should be introduced in Poland in order to improve the Polish system. These will be proposals for specific legislative changes.

It invites representatives of trade unions and employers’ organizations to participate in the Gdańsk Solidarity project, but also people interested in the subject of social dialogue.

Project implementation period: May 2020 – October 2022