Dmitry Medvedev’s opening remarks:
We have a good occasion to discuss the performance of the Russian Trilateral Commission on the Regulation of Social and Labour Relations. It has been 20 years since the Commission was created back in 1992. It has done a great deal to mitigate relations in the most difficult times, and was instrumental in taking decisions on the most important and sensitive issues for our people, including in the labour market at a time when it was still evolving, on social and labour rights, and on wage policy.
The Commission has played a significant role in harmonising the positions of the Government, the business community and the trade unions. In essence, it has evolved into a social partnership mechanism. I believe that we need to maintain this approach in the future, especially since we’ll be facing a variety of issues and there is lots of work ahead.
I am talking about the work that all of us have been engaged in: increasing wages in the public sector, creating a large number of modern jobs, and reforming the pension system, a challenging, but very important task. I hope that members of the Trilateral Commission will take part in developing professional standards and strengthening employees’ social protection.
Let's address the most important issues that are currently being discussed at the Trilateral Commission, and discuss the plans and what the Government can do to facilitate the implementation of these plans. I know that tomorrow the Commission will discuss the draft laws that will change the approaches to the assessment of working conditions, including occupational hazards and traumatism. Let's discuss these issues.
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