Research Workshops

Research Workshops: Employment Quality in Segmented Labour Markets

10-11 December 2012 and 25-26 April 2013

Within the framework of its research programme, the Office is organising two workshops on Employment Quality in Segmented Labour Markets.

One of the key features of the labour market developments throughout the world observed during recent years is the phenomenon of labour market segmentation: the division of the labour market into separate submarkets or segments, distinguished by different characteristics and behavioural rules. Segmentation may arise from particularities of labour market institutions, such as governing contractual arrangements (regular versus atypical employment), lack of enforcement (and resulting informality), as well as types of workers concerned (such as migrant, domestic, or dispatch workers).

The first workshop is technical, its goal is to discuss analytical findings from a series of country studies on labour market segmentation. The focus is on identifying the state of our knowledge on labour market segmentation, on consequences of its different forms in terms of both equity and efficiency of labour market outcomes, on viability of innovative policies, and also on recent and current reforms aimed at alleviating the labour market segmentation.

The second workshop is aimed at reflecting on policy implications and recommendations for alleviating labour market segmentation and its effects. Participants of this workshop prepare and discuss technical notes drawing the lessons of research for policy around three key themes: contractual segmentation of labour markets, segmentation along the informality line, and the role of collective bargaining in segmented labour markets. Rather than presenting individual papers, participants are invited to intervene by providing structured inputs drawn from their research to specific thematic discussions, which will be used to inform policy advice on the issue of segmentation.

The country studies can be found on the Labour Market Segmentation webpage.