Publications

April 2013

1. Working Paper No. 44, "Social dialogue and gender equality in the European Union"

   30 April 2013

   This paper forms part of a comparative research project whose objective is to demonstrate that gender equality and social dialogue are mutually beneficial and that their promotion should go hand in hand. Despite several studies on each topic separately, there is a knowledge gap worldwide on how gender equality at work is advanced through social dialogue. The topic is examined from qualitative and quantitative aspects.

2. Working Paper No. 49, "The impact of the eurozone crisis on Irish social partnership: A political economy analysis"

   30 April 2013

   This paper is part of a series of studies funded by the European Commission in the framework of an ILO research project on “Promoting a balanced and inclusive recovery from the crisis in Europe through sound industrial relations and social dialogue”. This project resulted from a partnership agreement between the ILO and the European Commission, which is aimed at the study of the impact of the crisis and crisis-response policies on national tripartite social dialogue, collective bargaining, and labour law in the member States of the ILO and those of the European Union (EU). A special focus is on the role of social dialogue actors and institutions in an admittedly difficult economic and political context marked by austerity policies.

3. 

   Labour Dispute Systems: Guidelines for improved performance

   23 April 2013

   Effective dispute prevention and resolution procedures and mechanisms provide an important underpinning for sound and stable industrial and employment relations. This guide is part of the ILO’s effort to strengthen institutions for the prevention and resolution of labour disputes. It provides advice on the steps to be taken to either revitalize an existing system, or establish an independent institution, ensuring that they operate efficiently and provide effective dispute resolution services.

4. Working Paper No. 48, "Resolving workplace disputes in Ireland: The role of the Labour Relations Commission"

   10 April 2013

   Conflict is inevitable in workplace relations. Establishing institutions and practices that are able to manage workplace conflict effectively is therefore an integral dimension of any workplace relations system. However, the nature of workplace relations and workplace conflict is changing. For example, as trade union density has declined, work-related disputes have become increasingly individualised, rendering institutions built on the expectation of collective disputes struggling under the resulting workload. Broader legislative and economic developments have also affected the nature of disputes, with many countries reporting a sharp increase in the number of rights disputes (and termination-related rights disputes in particular) proportionate to the number of interest disputes. Such changes can pose significant challenges to those charged with managing workplace disputes, and may demand a range of policy adjustments at an institutional or legislative level. This paper is one in a series of national studies that examine how certain highperforming dispute resolution institutions have responded to the changing nature of workplace disputes with a view to informing future developments in dispute resolution policy. Undertaken on behalf of the ILO by leading regional experts, each paper in the series looks at the evolution of a national dispute resolution institution. Highlighting the key challenges the institution has faced and the ways in which it has responded, the papers offer a nuanced understanding of the achievements and continued weaknesses of the system in question.

5. Working Paper No. 47, "Assessing South Africa's Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA)"

   09 April 2013

   This paper is one in a series of national studies that examine how certain highperforming dispute resolution institutions have responded to the changing nature of workplace disputes with a view to informing future developments in dispute resolution policy. Undertaken on behalf of the ILO by leading regional experts, each paper in the series looks at the evolution of a national dispute resolution institution. Highlighting the key challenges the institution has faced and the ways in which it has responded, the papers offer a critical insight into the achievements and continued weaknesses of the system in question.

6. 

   REGULATING THE EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIP IN EUROPE: A guide to Recommendation No. 198

   02 April 2013

   Over the recent years, there have been increasing developments at the European level regarding the employment relationship in legislation, case law, collective agreements and soft law. In this context, the ILO, and in particular the then Industrial and Employment Relations Department (DIALOGUE) undertook a strategic partnership with the European Labour Law Network (ELLN), a network of independent legal experts from all European Union Member States and European Economic Area countries, in order to produce an updated version of the 2007 annotated Guide with a specific focus on European countries.

January 2013

1. DIALOGUE Working Paper No. 46, "Emerging trends in employee participation in Sri Lanka"

   30 January 2013

   This paper is part of a series of national studies on employee participation practices in Asia undertaken within the research programme in the field of industrial relations in the region. The paper examines various forms of employee participation, including those involving trade unions (e.g. collective bargaining, tripartite social dialogue) as well as others (e.g. employee councils) which have developed in Sri Lanka as a result of statutory obligations, informal mechanisms that emerged out of HR practices, and a shared view between workers and employers on the need to cooperate.

2. EPlex in Brief No. 1 - "Employment protection legislation (EPL) of Georgia: A review based on ILO standards, OECD indicators and comparative labour law"

   18 January 2013

   The objective of this note is to review the Labour Code of Georgia with specific focus on employment protection legislation (EPL) from international and comparative perspectives. The main references used are ILO standards, EPL indicators of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the labour law of selected jurisdictions.

December 2012

1. 

   Recovering from the crisis through social dialogue in the new EU Member States: the case of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovenia

   20 December 2012

   This publication provides an analysis on the role social dialogue and tripartite institutions played in response to the recent global economic crisis in four Central and Eastern European countries, namely Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Poland.

2. DIALOGUE Working Paper No. 43, "Non-standard work, social dialogue and collective bargaining in Indonesia"

   14 December 2012

   The paper provides an overview of the situations facing informal, contract and outsourced workers, and how labour law regulates their terms and conditions of work. It analyses both legal and practical constraints in organizing such workers and the challenges to promoting effective social dialogue and collective bargaining. It also examines how the financial crisis has affected these workers negatively. Interestingly, the number of collective agreements increased in Indonesia during the early years of the crisis, but the trade unions’ priority was to secure the jobs of permanent workers.

November 2012

1. Working Paper No. 42: "Employee participation in Vietnam"

   27 November 2012

   This paper is part of a series of national studies on employee participation practices in Asia undertaken within the research programme in the field of industrial relations in the region. This is linked to the ILO Global Product on supporting collective bargaining and sound industrial and employment relations, involving close collaboration between the Industrial and Employment Relations Department (DIALOGUE) at ILO headquarters, the ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, and the ILO Decent Work Team for South Asia. The national studies aim at analysing the degree of employee participation within the enterprise, the forms such participation has taken, the issues that have been its focus, and its impact on workers’ rights, employment conditions and the economic efficiency of the enterprise.

2. Working Paper No. 41: "Industrial relations and collective bargaining in the Philippines"

   27 November 2012

   This paper is part of a series of national studies on collective bargaining and effective responses to the crisis conducted under the ILO Global Product on Supporting collective bargaining and sound industrial and employment relations. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the industrial relations trends and developments in the Philippines. It highlights the limited roles that industrial relations played in dealing with the global crisis. Both trade union density and collective bargaining coverage are low.

August 2012

1. Working Paper No. 40: "Employee participation in India"

   23 August 2012

   This paper is one of a series of national studies on employee participation practices in Asia undertaken within the research programme in the field of industrial relations in the region. This is linked to the ILO Global Product on Supporting collective bargaining and sound industrial and employment relations, involving close collaboration between the Industrial and Employment Relations Department (DIALOGUE) at ILO headquarters and the ILO Decent Work Team for South Asia. The national studies aim at analysing the degree of employee participation within the enterprise, the forms such participation has taken, the issues that have been its focus, and its impact on workers’ rights, employment conditions, and the economic efficiency of the enterprise.

2. Working Paper No. 15: "Social dialogue and gender equality in Uruguay"

   23 August 2012

   This paper is a part of a comparative research project whose objective is to demonstrate that gender equality and social dialogue are mutually beneficial and their promotion should go hand-in-hand. Despite several studies on each topic separately, there is a knowledge gap worldwide on how gender equality at work is advanced through social dialogue.

May 2012

1. Working Paper No. 39: "ILO survey on social dialogue and pension reform in times of crisis and beyond: Slovenia"

   11 May 2012

   This paper examines the political economy of pension reforms in times of economic crisis and its impact on social dialogue and tripartite institutions in Slovenia. The Slovenian economy was badly hit by the global economic and financial crisis of 2008-2009, which was the worst crisis experienced by the country since the break-up of the former Yugoslavia. This crisis, combined with the pressure of financial markets and international institutions forced the government to initiate several reforms, including changes to the pension system.

April 2012

1. Working Paper No. 36: "Non-standard workers: Good practices of social dialogue and collective bargaining"

   26 April 2012

   This paper examines the factors which have resulted in a limited capacity to exercise collective bargaining in addressing the needs and interests of nonstandard workers.

March 2012

1. The political economy of pension reforms in times of global crisis: State unilateralism or social dialogue?

   27 March 2012

   This paper examines the political economy of pension reforms in times of economic crisis and its impact on social dialogue and tripartite institutions in ten countries.

2. Working Paper No. 38: "Social dialogue and collective bargaining in times of crisis: The case of Greece"

   08 March 2012

   This paper is part of a series of national studies on collective bargaining and effective responses to the crisis under the Global Product on ‘Supporting collective bargaining and sound industrial relations’. It analyses the profound impacts of the financial crisis on industrial relations institutions and practices in Greece. A series of austerity measures have been put in place through new legislation. These include prohibition of salary increases, cuts in pay and benefits for public-sector employees, limits on public-sector hiring, increases in VAT and other taxes, changes in the limitations on mass layoffs and levels of severance compensation payments, and introduction of sub-minimum wages for new entrants to the labour market and those who are on apprenticeships.

3. Working Paper No. 32: "Collective bargaining in times of crisis: A case study of South Africa"

   06 March 2012

   This paper is one of a series of national studies on collective bargaining and effective responses to the crisis under the Global Product on ‘Supporting collective bargaining and sound industrial relations’. It analyses the context in which social dialogue and collective bargaining took place in South Africa during the crisis.

4. Working Paper No. 22: "Comparative study on social dialogue and gender equality in New Zealand, Australia and Fiji"

   06 March 2012

   This paper is a part of a comparative research project whose objective is to demonstrate that gender equality and social dialogue are mutually beneficial and their promotion should go hand-in-hand. Despite several studies on each topic separately, there is a knowledge gap worldwide on how gender equality at work is advanced through social dialogue. This study provides comprehensive information in a comparative perspective on three countries of the Pacific: Australia, New Zealand and Fiji.