Social dialogue:
Collective bargaining in agriculture

Collective bargaining is one of the most widespread forms of social dialogue. In rural areas, collective agreements in the agricultural sector have an extremely important role to play in securing decent conditions of work and ensuring stable labour relations on plantations and commercial farms. They often set out agreed principles and process of governance at the enterprise level. Many collective agreements incorporate relevant provisions of the labour code with regard to issues such as working time, overtime pay, leave and medical care, for example. This is important for two main reasons. First, because knowledge and enforcement of the law tend to be weak in rural areas, whereas the provisions of collective agreements are known to and have been accepted by the parties concerned, and second, because labour codes frequently treat the agricultural sector differently from other sectors with regard to these issues. Incorporation of legal provisions within the agreement clarifies the applicable law. The collective agreement constitutes a shared understanding of the rights and duties of employers and workers at the farm level. Since many large farms and plantations are in remote locations, infrequently visited by labour inspects, this common understanding is of great importance.

To see whether your government has ratified the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98), click here.