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• Working Paper 12: “Tripartite responses to the economic crisis in essential western European countries” - (pdf, 322 KB)

  By Jacques Freyssinet

  This working paper analyses tripartite responses to the economic crisis primary in Belgium, the Netherlands, Ireland, France, Spain, Germany and the United Kingdom. The author shows, that at the outbreak of the crisis, most of the countries already had experience in using social pacts in the 1990s. Countries with a strong tradition of tripartite dialogue were more likely to reach balanced responses to the crisis than countries that implemented measures without concertation.

• Working Paper 11: “Social dialogue and industrial relations during the economic crisis: Innovative practices or business as usual?” - (pdf, 181 KB)

  By Richard Hyman

  This paper evaluates the role social dialogue played so far in dealing with the crisis on various levels in Europe. Taking into account the different institutional frameworks on the national level, company level responses that rarely included training measures as well as collective bargaining measures lacked behind the scope of their possibilities in many European countries. The paper therefore highlights the importance of greater coordination between the different levels of Social Dialogue with the aim not to face an increasing ineffectiveness of such measures.

• Working Paper 10: “Negotiating the crisis? Collective bargaining in Europe during the economic downturn” - (pdf, 251 KB)

  By Vera Glassner and Maarten Keune

  This paper highlights in the role of the key actors in the labour market, which are the trade unions, the employer organizations and the state, in negotiating responses to the economic downturn. As the crisis revealed, the role of the state changed with regard to the prevailing paradigm of the neoclassical school towards a central role in finding responses to the crisis. The paper therefore reflects a wide range of responses on the national, inter –sectoral and sectoral level, the regional level and most important the company level.

• Working Paper 9: "Company-level bargaining in times of crisis: The case of Germany" - (pdf, 367 KB)

  By Dr. Stefan Zagelmeyer

  This paper highlights the role collective bargaining played in easing the impact of the crisis on the company level in Germany. In using the company examples of Daimler AG, Postbank AG, Arccador AG, AB InBev Germany GmbH and Carl Zeiss AG, the paper shows that collective bargaining has been a tool to face a multitude of challenges. An important factor that enabled the social partners to reach innovative agreements was the strong framework to deal with the crisis, set by the German government.

• Working Paper 8: A comparative study on industrial relations and collective bargaining in East Asian countries - (pdf, 247 KB)

  By Youngmo Yoon, November 2009, ISBN No. 9789221229186

  This paper is part of a series of studies on industrial relations developments in different countries and regions of the world. It examines the current state of industrial relations and collective bargaining, as well as the varied legal, political, economic and social changes leading to the realities of employment relations in East Asian countries today. Before the 1990s these countries enjoyed relative stability in industrial relations; however, as a result of globalization, they now face increasing competitive pressures and are experiencing a degree of turbulence as the actors attempt to settle into viable models of industrial relations.

• Working Paper 7: Industrial Relations and Collective Bargaining in China - (pdf, 247 KB)

  By Chang Hee Lee, October 2009, ISBN No. 9789221228424

  This paper is a part of a comparative study examining industrial relations developments in different countries and regions of the world. It examines the remarkable changes China has undergone in the field of industrial and employment relations, in particular after the transition to a market economy after 1978. Economic reform in China has been accompanied by the introduction of a new legislative and institutional framework for industrial and employment relations and this paper studies those developments.

• Working Paper 6: Labour Relations in Uruguay 2005-08 - (pdf, 715 KB)

  By Graciela Mazzuchi, November 2009, ISBN No. 9789221226925

  This paper is part of a series of studies examining industrial relations developments in different countries and regions of the world. It looks at how industrial relations systems and practices have evolved, and at how they are adapting to meet contemporary labour market challenges. It is particularly concerned with collective bargaining trends and innovative agreements that contribute to employment security, social protection, and the implementation of workers’ rights.

• Working Paper 5: Industrial Relations and Collective Bargaining: Argentina, Brazil and Mexico compared - (pdf, 909 KB)

  By Adalberto Cardoso and Julian gindin, October 2009, ISBN No. 9789221225317

  This working paper is part of a comparative study examining industrial relations developments in different countries and regions of the world. The paper provides a comparative analysis of industrial relations in Argentina, Brazil and Mexico. All three countries have distinct political, institutional and economic backgrounds, yet they share some important features, such as the central role that the State plays in regulating the labour market and working conditions. This does not mean that collective bargaining is not important where it exists; only that its role tends to be limited to legally defined constituencies.

• Working Paper 4: Signing International Framework Agreements: Case Studies from South Africa, Russia and Japan - (pdf, 578 KB)

  By Konstantinos Papadakis, September 2009, ISBN No. 9789221226925

  The present paper is the outcome of a research effort which involved collaborations with various ILO branches and field Offices, particularly in Tokyo, Moscow and Pretoria, as well as the management of multinational companies, social partners and external experts and academics.