Rights at Work, Work on Rights

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Overview

Rights at Work, Work on Rights was an Erasmus+ Capacity Building in the Field of Youth project designed to improve young workers’ awareness of labour rights and strengthen their ability to recognize, protect and exercise those rights in increasingly complex labour markets. Combining research, education and awareness-raising activities, the project addressed one of the key challenges facing young people entering employment: limited knowledge of labour legislation, workplace rights and available protection mechanisms.

The project developed an interdisciplinary model bringing together universities, trade unions, youth organizations and civil society partners across Southeast Europe. Through empirical research, peer education, workshops, public campaigns and educational resources, the consortium sought to empower young workers to participate in fair, just and decent working conditions while promoting sustainable cooperation between educational institutions and social partners.

A distinctive contribution of the University of Rijeka – Center for Advanced Studies Southeast Europe (CAS SEE)was its role as the project’s principal research partner. CAS SEE designed and implemented the regional survey “Are You Familiar with Your Labour Rights?”, analysed national and comparative findings across partner countries, and provided the empirical foundation upon which subsequent educational activities and awareness campaigns were developed.

Project activities included:

  • regional empirical research on young workers’ knowledge of labour rights;
  • comparative national reports;
  • training of peer educators;
  • more than forty educational workshops across participating countries;
  • awareness-raising and media campaigns;
  • educational videos and digital learning materials;
  • publication of a practical guide on youth labour rights and mechanisms of protection;
  • development of a sustainable educational model for future cooperation between universities, trade unions and youth organizations.

Project duration

December 2018 – November 2019

Funder (Donor)

Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union

Key Action 2 (KA2): Capacity Building in the Field of Youth – Western Balkan Window

Partners

Coordinator

  • Development Center for Youth (Belgrade, Serbia)

Consortium Members

  • University of Rijeka – Center for Advanced Studies Southeast Europe (Croatia)
  • Trade Union of Administration of the Republic of Serbia
  • Trade Union Education Center (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
  • Trade Union of Administration of Republika Srpska
  • Trade Union of Administration and Justice of Montenegro
  • Foundation Budva (Montenegro)
  • Coalition of Youth Organizations SEGA (North Macedonia)
  • Trade Union UPOZ (North Macedonia)
  • YouthWatch (Slovakia)

Project outcomes

During its implementation, the consortium produced tangible regional impact:

  • regional survey on young workers’ awareness of labour rights;
  • comparative national reports covering four Western Balkan countries;
  • training of 24 peer educators;
  • organization of more than 40 workshops involving over 600 young participants;
  • media campaign reaching approximately 3.5 million people;
  • production of 10 educational videos on labour rights;
  • publication of the practical handbook Guide through Youth Labour Rights, Phenomena Endangering Them and Available Mechanisms of Protection;
  • establishment of a long-term regional cooperation network between universities, trade unions and youth organizations.

CAS SEE contribution

The Center for Advanced Studies Southeast Europe served as the consortium’s lead research institution. Its responsibilities included:

  • conceptual design of the regional research framework;
  • preparation of the survey instrument “Are You Familiar with Your Labour Rights?”;
  • comparative analysis of research findings;
  • preparation of national and regional reports;
  • scientific support for educational materials;
  • contribution to the training of peer educators through evidence-based educational content;
  • integration of research findings into subsequent awareness-raising activities and policy recommendations.

Teams