On April 28, 2015, the World Day for Safety and Health at Work was observed in Georgia with a protest organized by the Confederation of Trade Unions of Georgia. Union members gathered at the Ministry of Economy, demanding the reinstatement of the Labor Inspection and the creation of a safe working environment for all employees. According to union statistics, 41 workers died and 66 were injured at workplaces in 2014.

Just days before the protest, on April 18, 2015, a tragic accident occurred at a hydroelectric construction site in Khulo district, where two workers were killed and one injured. The accident happened when a crane bridge collapsed during the dismantling of an auxiliary structure, causing scaffolding to fall from a height.

During the protest, trade union representatives emphasized that all branches of the government are responsible for workplace safety and reminded officials that April 28 is a day to highlight the urgent need for labor protections. Protest banners called for:

• “Law on Labor Safety”
• “Ratification of ILO Convention No. 155 – Occupational Safety and Health”

Earlier, on April 21, 2015, the Ministry of Labor, Health, and Social Affairs of Georgia established the Labor Inspection, tasked with ensuring both environmental safety and the provision of protective equipment at workplaces. Inspectors were to follow the international Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) protocol for evaluations. However, according to the Confederation of Trade Unions of Georgia, effective mechanisms for workplace safety have yet to be fully implemented.