ETUI-REHS Research / Social Dialogue / Projects /

European Social Dialogue

Description

Evaluation of the Interprofessional social dialogue

Since its existence in the institutional and legal framework of the EU, the Social Partners ETUC-UNICE-CEEP/UEAPME were able to take advantage of the provisions of the Social Protocol and the Agreement on social policy to start negotiations on parental leave, part-time work, fixed-term contracts and temporary agency work. Up till 2002 they concluded three legally binding EU framework agreements. In 2002 a new landmark in the EU social dialogue was established by the conclusion of the EU agreement on Telework. The first autonomous agreement in a sense that it will not as previous agreements be incorporated into a Directive but which creates a contractual

obligation for the affiliated organisations of the signatory parties (ETUC-UNICE-UEAPME-CEEP) to implement the agreement at each appropriate level (European, national, sectoral and even enterprise-level) according to the procedures and practices specific to management and labour and the Member States. In 2004 the Social Partners ETUC-UNICE-CEEP concluded a second autonomous agreement on stress at work. In 2005 the first seminar on the issue of violence at work take place and the Social Partners ETUC-UNICE-CEEP informed the European Commission of their intention to negotiate on the issue most probably in 2006.

The objective of this project is to conduct a comparative survey on the implementation and monitoring in the Member States of the instruments of the inter-professional European social dialogue, such as framework agreements/directive, autonomous agreements. As far as possible each level will be taken into account.

A first overview of the implementation process of the autonomous agreement on Telework was established in November 2003 as a document for one of the sessions of the NETLEX conference 2003. Further development of implementation at national, sectoral, regional and enterprise level have been regularly monitored since then. A 2005 review is in preparation and the final report will be published in 2006 in the view of a possible revision of the autonomous agreement

A first overview of the implementation process of the autonomous agreement on Stress at work signed at the ETUC Executive Committee of October 2004 has been launched. The ETUI-REHS undertakes a scientific support to the foreseen ETUC annual report on development of the European interprofessional social dialogue.

Additionally, a multidisciplinary research (legal, economic and sociological) is foreseen on the implementation of the EU interprofessional and sectoral social dialogue agreements (eg parental leave, life-long learning, etc.) according to the review deadlines fixed in the agreements and in line with the 2003-2005 Social Dialogue work programme and including as far as possible the enlargement aspect. The ETUI-REHS is also involved in the scientific preparation of the negotiation of the next work programme of the social partners 2006-2008.

The ETUI-REHS also envisages to produce on a biannual basis a report on major developments in the EU social dialogue with contributions of both internal and external experts.

Evaluation of the soft law instruments interacting with the European social dialogue: CSR

In the spirit of the Lisbon European Council of March 2000 that defined a global strategy towards anticipating and managing changes in the EU, and according to the dynamic launched by the Commission since 2001 in favour of corporate social responsibility, the challenge is to achieve a better balance between strengthening the capacity of business to adapt and the proactive involvement of workers in economic, environmental and social issues of the enterprises.

In this respect the ETUC's response focuses on a partnership approach to CSR on 4 issues: 1) the development of quality employment, 2) the respect of information, consultation, participation of workers and their trade union representatives and of collective bargaining, 3) the anticipation of industrial change and restructuring, 4) the respect and promotion of fundamental social rights.

This project aims at analyzing the role of the social dialogue in the assertion of a partnership approach of CSR. In a large perspective on the complementarity of hard law and soft law, the main objective will be to examine the role of workers and the social partners to develop and monitor a (new) framework to promote a CSR. In this respect particular interest should be given to the analysis of the legal nature of codes of conduct and similar tools. Another issue will deal with the involvement of workers and workers' representatives in anticipating industrial changes and in restructuring.

Researchers

Publications