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These workshops were part of a capacity-building project funded by the European Commission consisting of workshops in five new EU Member States. Both workshops were attended by representatives of technicians’, actors’ and musicians’ unions representing workers in the different fields of the live performance sector.



Some of the key issues discussed in Slovakia included recent changes to labour legislation which weakened the situation for workers as well as the role of unions, working conditions especially when touring and remuneration for atypical working hours, and the power of unions to bargain collectively and to ensure management complies with existing collective agreements. In Slovenia the employment relations in the culture sector are governed by a specific law which allows for more free use of atypical employment contracts. Other key issues discussed in Slovenia were the challenges of collective bargaining when the counterpart is not the manager but rather the state, as well as the challenges for young workers to find employment as culture funding is being cut and pension age for artists is constantly raised.



The next step will be to visit these countries again later this year to evaluate the benefits of the workshops and to discuss the current situation in each country.