The third phase of the Employment and Social Affairs Platform (ESAP 3) project has started, building upon the solid foundations laid by its predecessors, ESAP 1 and ESAP 2. Funded by the European Union (EU) and jointly implemented by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and International Labour Organisation (ILO), ESAP 3 will continue operating in the Western Balkan region over the next five years.

Following the successful completion of its second phase, ESAP 3 was officially launched in March 2024. The project aims to promote fair and well-functioning labour markets in the Western Balkans in line with the European Pillar of Social Rights. This phase includes the following components:

• Promote Employment Formalisation by increasing stakeholders’ capacities for implementing evidence-based policies and preparing the Western Balkans Network Tackling Undeclared Work for its integration into the European Labour Authority (ELA).

• Advanced alignment with the EU acquis and European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR) by providing continued support to relevant ministries in aligning employment and social policies with EU acquis Chapter 2 and Chapter 19.

• Foster effective tripartite and bipartite social dialogue and collective bargaining by assisting and upskilling social partners and tripartite organizations to develop high quality policy positions, draft legislations (laws and by-laws), and implement practical measures related to industrial relations, including collective bargaining and labour markets. 

• Advance alignment of occupational safety and health with the EU Framework for OSH, the International Labour Standards (ILS) and the ILO Global Strategy on OSH and increase the capacities and outreach of labour inspectorates and other relevant stakeholders in OSH for a safer and healthier workplace.

The primary beneficiaries of this project are the Ministries of Labour and Social Affairs, Public Employment Services (PES), Labour Inspectorates, Tax Administrations, Economic-Social Councils, and social partners from the six Western Balkan economies. Additionally, ESAP 3 facilitates exposure of the Western Balkans project’s beneficiaries to EU-wide networks, institutions and processes to ensure peer learning and collaboration. 

More updates on improving employment and social affairs in the Western Balkans and project’s implementation will follow.

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ESAP 1 - the project’s first phase (2016-2019) has supported six Western Balkan economies in labour market, employment and social policy reforms aimed at increasing employment opportunities for citizens  across the region.  

ESAP 2 - the project’s second phase (2020-2024) expanded to cover additional employment and social policy topics of high relevance for Western Balkans: undeclared work; strengthening institutional capacities to develop, monitor and evaluate evidence-based labour market policies and measures that would work towards more and decent jobs; exposure and engagement of the Western Balkan institutions the EU-wide networks and processes aiming at alignment with the EU acquis and implementation of the European Social Pillar; and increase effectiveness of tripartite and bipartite social dialogue.