e-Academy on Social Dialogue and Industrial Relations

9 November - 11 December 2020 Social dialogue is defined by the ILO to include all types of negotiation, consultation or simply exchange of information between, or among, representatives of governments, employers and workers, on issues of common interest relating to economic and social policy. It can exist as a tripartite process, with the government as an official party to the dialogue or it may consist of bipartite relations only between employers or their organizations and trade unions (or workers’ representatives at the level of the undertakings). Social dialogue is both a means to achieve decent work by strengthening democratic decision-making and an end in itself. Although social dialogue practices may differ from country to country, freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining constitute both key prerequisites to effective social dialogue, and fundamental human rights. The main aim of social dialogue is to improve the quality of decisions and policies through the involvement of the main stakeholders in the world of work, notably employers, workers and their representatives. Successful social dialogue institutions and processes have the potential to resolve important economic and social issues, deal with crises -such as COVID-19- encourage good governance and social peace, reduce inequality and promote growth. Social dialogue may take different forms. At national level as well as other levels tripartite dialogue allows government, business and employers and workers and their representatives, to seek solutions on issues of common interest, as equal and independent partners. Collective bargaining allows an employer, or a group of employers, on the one hand, and one or more workers' organizations on the other, to jointly determine working conditions and terms of employment, regulate relations between employers and workers, and/or regulate relations between employers or their organizations and workers' organizations. This unique and distinct form of social dialogue plays a key role in the governance of the labour market. Collective bargaining can takes place at many levels (international, national, sectoral, enterprise or territorial level). At the enterprise level, the interaction between workers’ representatives can also take place through workplace cooperation. Workplace cooperation is understood as consultation and cooperation between employers and workers on matters of mutual concern not within the scope of collective bargaining machinery. For example, safety and health committees can play an important role at the workplace. In addition, jointly designed grievance mechanisms can also play a key role in preventing the escalation of conflict and promoting a climate of mutual understanding in the workplace. There is no "one size fits all" model of social dialogue that can be readily exported from one context to another. Indeed, there is a rich diversity in institutional arrangements, legal frameworks, traditions and practices of social dialogue throughout the world. Adapting social dialogue to specific situations is key to ensuring well-adapted solutions which enjoy full ownership by the main labour market actors, as well as sustainability of the process itself. This e-Academy provided a unique opportunity for participants to build knowledge and skills on the different forms of and approaches to social dialogue and industrial relations, and how these can shape effective responses to contemporary global challenges. OBJECTIVES This e-Academy on Social Dialogue and Industrial Relations developed participants' knowledge and skills to engage in successful social dialogue at all levels. CONTENT The sessions delivered during the Academy included the following topics: Labour Relations, Collective bargaining and workplace cooperation; International Labour standards related to social dialogue and collective bargaining; The role of collective bargaining in ensuring a system of sound industrial relations; Tripartism and the role of peak level social dialogue institutions; Enhancing the role of tripartism and national social dialogue institutions; Workplace cooperation; Labour relations in the public sector; Labour relations in the public sector; Gender, non-discrimination, violence and harassment at work; Cross border social dialogue; The Global Deal; Social dialogue and globalization; Social dialogue and platform work; Putting social dialogue in practice: The Global Deal; The setting of wages through collective bargaining and its links with productivity; Dealing with crises: The role of social dialogue during the COVID-19 pandemic; Preventing and resolving disputes; Social dialogue in policy making; Prevention and resolution of labour disputes; Social dialogue and representation in the informal economy; Improving the collection of data on industrial relations for evidence-based policy-making; Social dialogue and informal economy; Social dialogue and the future of work;