Social dialogue

EC-EZA seminar at the Academy

25.-27. maijā, 2023, Akadēmijā norisinās starptautisks EK-EZA (Eiropas Centrs Strādājošo Jautājumos) seminārs “Sociālais dialogs un ražošanas attiecības Baltijas valstīs un citās ES valstīs Eiropas Sociālo tiesību kontekstā”. Paredzētas diskusijas un darbnīcas. Tēma nozīmīga sociālajiem darbiniekiem, karitatīvajiem sociālajiem darbiniekiem, makro līmeņa speciālistiem.

EC-EZA General Assembly

EZA General Assemby of EC organization EZA (European Center for Workers’ Questions) conviened in Vilnius (LT), December 2022. The key topic was development of the European Social dialogue. European Christian Academy is one of the key partners with EC organiztions since 2004. Rector of EZA prof. Skaidrīte Gūtmane took part in discussions and group work.

International EZA seminar at Latvian Christian Academy

Annual international seminar “Young qualified workers: empowerment and participation strategies in the Baltic States and EU” will be held in May 27-29, 2021. The seminar will deal with the importance of qualification for young workers for themselves and their integration and further development in the labour market, but also for social development. A key question is what steps are necessary to integrate young people successfully and sustainably into the new world of work – also taking into account the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. The employability of young people is seen as a cornerstone of social development. Particular attention is paid to the digital economy and new business models resulting from it which require special knowledge and skills. The seminar will host experts from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Link to EZA webpage.

The European Centre for Workers’ Questions (EZA) mourns the death of its co-founder and Honorary President Leo Pauwels

The European Centre for Workers’ Questions (EZA) mourns the death of its co-founder and Honorary President Leo Pauwels, in 19 October 2020 at the age of 84. We at Latvian Christian academy were priveldged to know Leo since beginning of EZA extension in Latvia in 2004.
Leo Pauwels was President of EZA from 07.11.1998 to 02.12.2006. The General Assembly elected him Honorary President in 2006 after his retirement as President.
Leo was a European through and through. For him, education was an essential element for human freedom and for the development and strengthening of democracy.
Since 1960 Leo was active for the Christian labour movement in Flanders. His untiring commitment to workers’ rights and decent work was deeply rooted in his faith and deep conviction that Christian social teaching could make an essential contribution and be a source of inspiration for shaping the economic order and the world of work.
From the very beginning in the mid-1980s and especially after the opening of the Iron Curtain, Leo has shaped all the steps towards the foundation and further development of EZA, so that from the five founding countries a Europe-wide network with 70 members in 30 countries has grown. He brought with him his rich knowledge of the Christian workers’ movement in Europe and his conviction of the importance of European integration.
Leo was therefore also significantly involved in the development of the EUCDW.
Without Leo the European Social Week in its present form would not be conceivable. Since the first European Social Week in 1997 in the European Parliament in Brussels, the exchange between representatives of workers’ organisations, employers’ associations, science, churches and politics about basic Christian social values as a compass and how they can be translated into concrete political action was close to his heart.
With Leo we are losing a cornerstone of our network and a friend.
We are grateful for all the encounters we have had with Leo over the years. He managed to bring people together and to integrate them, to be a source of strength for others. With his optimism, his creativity, his sense of mysticism and beauty, his devotion he has touched our souls and left traces that remain. His life will continue to be a source of inspiration for EZA.
All our sympathy goes to Leo’s wife Ann, his children and grandchildren.
We live in the confidence that he will return home to God.

What does the Academy do for the promotion of the Social Europe Consciousness?

In order to promote development of the Social Europe consciousness, Europan Commission  organizes a “Have Your Say for Reinforcing Social Europe”. Key documents like “European Social Pillar of Social Rights”,  “20 Key Principles” and “Strong Social Europe for Just Transitions” are recommended for discussions and analysis. The seminar for LChrA students was held online in October 6, 2020; the seminar was hosted by specialists of the Caritatyive social work study programme.

EZA seminar in Gdansk

EZA seminar “Breaking new ground – efficient organisation and design of educational measures to create added value in the social dialogue” was held in Gdansk, December 5-7, 20919. The venue was chosen with purpose – the building next to the Gdansk shipyard witnessed historical events of 1970 and 1981 when Polish trade-union “Solidarnošč” was founded and social dialog as we understand it today started. Historical Agreement between the Communist government and “Solidarnošč” opened doors for independent trade unions in the then Communist country. Latvian Christian academy was represented by ass.prof. Guntis Dišlers.

EZA seminar “Fairness: Development of new forms of work, self-employment and social protection in EU countries. Future of Work: Changes in Labour Relations” at Latvian Christian academy

Latvian Christian academy is partnering with EZA (European Center for Workers’ Questions, EC-Germany) since 2004 and hosts international seminars on topical issues of the European Social Agenda annually. Topic of the seminar held May 23-25, 2019, titled “Future of Work: Changes in Labour Relations”. We thank all participants of the seminar” Jelena Soms (EZA-Lithuania), prof. […]

Welcome to the EZA seminar at Latvian Christian academy!

Dr.oec., Oļegs Krasnopjorovs (Chief Economist of Monetary Policy Department, Bank of Latvia), Mr. Aimar Altosaar, President of NGO “The Golden League” (Estonia), Dr., prof. Elvyra Aciene, Klaipeda University, President of Association of Lithuanian Social Work Universities (Lithuania), Mrs. Lidija Dārziņa, Analyist of legal acts of the Latvian Government official publisher “Latvijas Vēstnesis” (“Herald of Latvia”), […]

Lectures on Social Dialogue

DrHC of Latvian Christian academy Mr. Pēteris Krīgers, member of European Economic and Social Committee, former Secretary General of Free Trade Union Confederation of Latvia, was lecturing at Latvian Christian academy on Social Dialogue in Latvia against the European background; February 16, 2019.

An international EZA seminar “Inclusive Labour Market and Youth Employment: Cross-European Analysis”

An international seminar “Inclusive Labor Market and Youth Employment: Cross-European Analysis” was held at Latvian Christian academy in cooperation with EC networking organization EZA (European Center for Workers’ Questions, Germany) in May 31 – June 2, 2018. Specialists from other Baltic States participated together with Latvian representatives (from the Ministry of Welfare, State Employment Agency […]