Russian President Comes Out For Coordinated Actions Of The Authorities And Trade Unions

Russian president Vladimir Putin has come out in favour of coordinated actions of the authorities and trade unions. Speaking at the sixth congress of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions being held in Moscow, the head of state stressed that such coordinated actions are necessary, above all, for the authorities not to forget their responsibility for social consequences of their decisions. According to Putin, the period of mass state trusteeship is over. We have now a different aim -- to give every person equal chances for improving his or her life, and create all the necessary conditions for honest work and worthy earning, he said. The trade unions can influence both the authorities and society, the president pointed out. According to him, the trade unions are aware of their responsibility for the country's economic development when they protect citizens' social guarantees. The president stressed that labour is becoming a personal choice and a private affair of every citizen. However, this does not mean that a citizen alone should solve his/her employment problems. The state and trade unions should help people orientate themselves in the labour market in a right way and receive, if need be, a new profession, Putin said. Another important issue of cooperation between government and trade unions, according to the head of state, is social partnership. The president pointed out that trade unions have an experience in such partnership which they have acquired at major enterprises and in the budget sphere. Now, Putin said, this experience can be used at small enterprises, the more so that their heads and owners understand that it becomes advantageous to work openly and honestly.