Goals

Problem statement:

In Georgia human rights are often violated in workplaces. The most vulnerable group in this regard is represented by miners and pitmen, who have to work in life-threating conditions and have inappropriate salaries. Besides, their overtime working hours aren’t reimbursed. The problem is also posed by the fact that miners do not have proper working equipment and uniforms, and their daily ration is not sufficient for workers.

The project “invisible labour” refers to the infringement of labour rights in Georgia, in particular, the problems of the miners in Tkibuli. The aim of the project is to make the severe daily reality of the miners visible to the public and to cause empathy of the citizens towards workers.

Within the frame of the project it is planned to meet with the miners in Tkibuli, have a photo shoot and record an interview. After the photos are printed, they will be exhibited together with the stories of the miners. A seminar will be held in order to raise awareness on the labour rights of those employed. Stencils will be placed in the streets and posters will put up in crowded places.

Proposed Solution:

The main goal of the project is to bring the difficult conditions of the miners closer to citizens and photo-stories are the best way to generate sympathy and solidarity towards Tkibulians. Therefore, within the scope of the project the organizers and the photographer will visit Tkibuli for 3 days in order to take the photos with the miners and record interviews. The photos and stories of Tkibulians will be displayed in Tbilisi.

It is planned to make stencil in four cities of Georgia: Tbilisi, Batumi, Zugdidi and Gurjaani. The text will focus the public attention on labour rights and will return the problems of the miners neglected in the social reality back to the minds of the citizens. Apart from the stencils, posters will also be pasted up, displaying several photos taken in Tkibuli with short stories.

Mines are not the only place where labour rights are violated. It is necessary for the employed to know their rights, so that they can protect themselves in case of violations. For that purpose, informational seminars on labour rights will be held, where employees can receive information.

Sustainability:

The visitors of the exhibition will read the stories told by Tkibuli miners and will learn about their everyday life. The people who will attend the seminar, will become more aware of their labour rights, which will enable them to identify the violations in the future. After the exhibition, the stories displayed at the exhibition will be published in internet magazines and social networks and the information will become available to more people. The printed photos will be given to the Committee of Tkibuli miners.

The posters and stencils placed in the streets will stay for a long time and will remind the citizens of the hard experience of the miners. The society will notice the invisible labour of the miners, will express its solidarity towards them and will get involved in the campaign launched to protect their labour rights.

Equal gender opportunity:

More miners are men than women, but women workers will also benefit from learning about their employment rights.