Organized citizens for an organized future 2026

Brief description of the project:

The project "Organized Citizens for an Organized Future" aims to contribute to the promotion of social dialogue, better protection of workers' rights, greater awareness and encouragement of workers to recognize, report and demand their rights. In conditions of an increasing number of violations of workers' rights, layoffs, company closures, unpaid salaries and contributions and limited social dialogue, "Voice Textile" provides direct legal assistance, advocacy and support to workers.

The project also contributes to greater public visibility of issues related to decent work, economic and social justice, gender equality and non-discrimination. Special attention is paid to women workers, young people and workers in low-wage industries.

Activities:

Four main groups of activities are implemented within the project:

• Legal assistance and representation for workers: free legal aid, counseling, court representation and monitoring, case monitoring, working meetings, workshops and representation before national institutions, and conducting institutional procedures.

• Representation documents:

  • Analyses of the ZRO;
  • Briefs;
  • Educational materials.

• Textiliada 10 „"Textilijada" is an annual event organized by "Glasen Tekstilec" that connects workers' rights with culture, art, activism and public dialogue. The festival creates a space for workers, youth, institutions, unions, civil society organizations and cultural workers to come together to discuss the most important social challenges and to encourage concrete action. In Shtip, a city with a deep textile tradition, Textilijada preserves workers' memory and builds a contemporary culture of solidarity and resistance to injustice.

• Peer Education Program: training of high school students on labor rights, mobbing, discrimination and workplace relations, who will then transfer the acquired knowledge to their peers. This program covers over 800 students from the Eastern region, namely from the cities of Shtip, Vinica, Kocani and from the cities of Kavadarci, Sveti Nikole and Radoviš.

• Organizational and institutional support: ensuring the stable functioning of the organization and continuity of services for workers, and maintaining the office.

Target groups:

The project is intended for workers from the private sector, especially from the textile and other low-wage industries, people whose labor rights have been violated, women exposed to discrimination in the workplace, as well as high school students and young people preparing to enter the labor market.

The activities also include citizens, civil society organizations, informal groups of workers, trade unions, and representatives of local and national institutions. 

Implementation period:

October 2018 – December 2026, with several project extensions.

Contact:

blagojche.dishoski@glasentekstilec.mk