The international project "Strong TCL: Strong Partnership for an Enhanced Social Dialogue in the Textile, Clothing and Leather Sector in Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia" has been running since the end of last year. The second half of the project implementation began with the study tour of the project partners in Slovenia.
MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF STUPIS / ZSSS
The partners first visited the Association of Free Trade Unions of Slovenia (ZSSS), where they were greeted by Mr Dušan Semolič, President of the ZSSS and Mr Tone Rozman, General Secretary of Textile and Leather Processing Industries Trade Union of Slovenia (STUPIS). The partners discussed the social dialogue in the textile, clothing and leather processing industry in Slovenia with the trade union representatives. Mr Luc Triangle, Deputy General Secretary at industriAll - European Trade Union asked the representatives of the ZSSS and STUPIS about the past and intended trade union restructuring with a view to adapting to the changing economic circumstances.
The representatives of both the employers and trade unions from the partner countries highlighted good cooperation between the Slovenian employers and trade unions, demonstrated in particular in recent natural disasters (floods in Serbia, Bosnia and Herze-govina and Croatia).
BOXMARK LEATHER D.O.O. FACTORY TOUR
As part of the study tour, the project partners had the opportunity to visit Boxmark Leather d.o.o., Kidričevo, a manufacturer of leather products, such as car seats, sets for aircraft, yachts etc. Boxmark Leather d.o.o. is the most successful company in Slovenia and employs around 1,300 people.
The project partners were greeted by Mr Marjan Trobiš, CEO, Mr Vlado Cvetko, Technical Director and Ms Hele¬na Rous, HR Manager. The study tour participants were informed at a joint meeting about the company’s activity, its production and social dialogue between the employer and the employees of the company. After the meeting, they made a tour of the entire production of the company.
PARTNER MEETING
In the second part of the study tour the partners held a partner meeting (6 June 2014). Initially, the representatives of EURA¬TEX, COTANCE and industriAll introduced the initiatives and social dialogue in the textile, clothing and leather sector at the European level as well as suggestions for future development.
The introductory part was followed by an evaluation of the project work performed so far and a plan for the work in the future, including the preparation of the project publication, panel discussions in all participating countries and the final conference to be held on 18 November 2014 in Ljubljana.
With financial support from the European Union.