Ports:
Social dialogue

There is now a wide recognition that social dialogue between Governments and employers' and workers' representatives in the port industry is a prerequisite for effectively foreshadowing and managing current and future changes and the corresponding structural reforms in the port sector. It is against this background that the ILO has developed and published in 2006 a practical a document titled Social dialogue in the process of structural adjustment and private sector participation in ports: A practical guidance manual, which may form the basis for technical advisory services on social dialogue at sectoral level to be provided to ports undergoing structural adjustments. This manual was validated within the framework of an international tripartite workshop that was held in Turin, Italy; from 24 to 28 July 2006.

The ILO has also developed training materials that may support courses on best practices for social dialogue in the process of structural adjustment and private sector participation in ports. These ILO courses would be very useful to ports that plan port reforms and the ILO would be willing to technically support such courses.