Tbilisi. The Public Defender responded to the business and human rights situation in Georgia and addressed the Prime Minister of Georgia in writing, considering the report prepared by the UN Working Groupon the issue ofhuman rights and transnational corporationsand other business enterprises.  In the letter, the Public Defender expressed her concern about the low rate of fulfillment of obligations under the human rights action plan, since according to information received from various agencies, despite a number of measures taken, no effective measures have been taken so far to perform a number of key tasks set out in the action plan on business and human rights.  Read more  Source: The web-page of the organization

Tbilisi. Transparency International – Georgia has released a blog on the new draft Law "on the Business Ombudsman of Georgia", which was examined at the first hearing last week by the parliamentary Financial-Budgetary Committee, which has ruled to proceed to examination at the plenary session. The organization believes that legislative amendments must not be mostly of technical nature, but carry "substantial content and boost this institute's supervision mechanisms over protection of rights". For the full text... Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. CSO "Young Barristers" has organized a press conference, urging the National Bank of Georgia to exercise more control over non-core activities of commercial banks in Georgia. For the full text... Source: barristers.ge

Tbilisi. The Association of Young Financiers and Businessmen (AFBA) has estimated preliminary data released by Sakstat on the foreign trade in January-November. For the full text (geo)... Source: the organization's web page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development has developed a draft law on postal service with the purpose to introduce a new regulatory framework in the postal sector. The draft law envisages the introduction of state regulation in this segment of the market. Transparency International Georgia has analyzed the draft law and "found serious incongruities between the regulations proposed under this draft law and the Georgian Legislation. The new regulatory framework in the postal sector will have a negative impact on this segment of the market in terms of free, fair and competitive business environment, and is not in line with best international practices as well", says the organization's web-page. For the full text Source:transparency.ge

Tbilisi. On February 28 within the framework of "Raising the belief of medium and small business enterprises in the work of the court” project implemented by Eurasia Partnership a meeting was held in the office of the organization "Article 42”. During the meeting a tax-code draft amendment package was discussed and general problems related to it. Further meetings will be held for recommendations. Source: Web-page of the organization in social media.

Tbilisi. The Civil Society Institute has developed a guide – "Financial Registration and Accounting of Not-For-Profit (Non-Commercial) Legal Entities". The manual assists not-for-profit legal entities in preparing the accounting registration and reporting. The publication covers issues such as theoretic foundations of preparing and submitting financial reporting by not-for-profit legal entities, registration of material supplies, fixed assets, state grants, etc. This is the first precedent of development of such guide in Georgia, and therefore the authors are eager to receive suggestions from all interested parties. The Civil Society Institute has developed this publication as part of the "Policy, Advocacy and Civil Society Development in Georgia" program of the "East-West Management Institute". Guide: ‘’Financial Registration and Accounting of Not-For-Profit Legal Entities’’ (geo)

Tbilisi. The Young Financiers' and Businessmen's Association – "AFBA" criticizes the legislative amendments related to organization of gambling and lottery games. "We, the young financiers support the position of the "Gambling Business Association" and believe that full prohibition of advertising of gambling business is unacceptable. Strict limitation of the gambling business will result in its transition in illegal form, which will aggravate the existing reality further", – says the organization's page.Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Adjara. On December16, the Employers' Association of Georgia held a meeting in the Batumi Civic Engagement Center, at which it informed local businessmen about the amendments to be made to the Labor Code of Georgia. Pursuant to this draft law, the employer shall be tried under the Criminal Code and be sentenced to 2 years of imprisonment if s/he forces the employee to write a letter of resignation. This part of the Code was discussed by the attending audience. Representatives of local business sector found this object of change as vague and partly unacceptable. In addition, the Employers' Association of Georgia also confirms that the draft law contains numerous flaws and requires clarifications.

Tbilisi. The Association of Young Economists of Georgia has delivered business skills trainings for the women farmers living in Samegrelo and Samtskhe-Javakheti. The trainings held at the end of August aimed at developing the entrepreneurial and business skills of the women farmers. Acquired knowledge will help the entrepreneurs in the effective management of family farming economies and the growth of incomes. Along with the theoretic materials, the training covered the practical cases, simulations and necessary information for the development of agrarian business. Trainings in "Business Skills for Women Farmers" are implemented as part of the USAID's "Economic Prosperity Initiative" (EPI) program. Source: economists.ge