National experiences

Social dialogue at a national level covers a great variety of experiences that range from a simple agreement on a particular socio-economic situation to the most complex and continuous negotiation processes among social partners. Vocational training is also considered within these contexts.

Third Tripartite Agreement on Continuing Vocational Training (Spain)

>> Social dialogue, vocational training and right to integration

>> Links to regional integration websites

Tripartite Agreement dated 23 July 1993,
Italy, concerning instruction and vocational training

Accordo per lo sviluppo, l´occupazione e la competitivitá del sistema economico nazionale: prioritá condivise in materia di politiche per la ricerca, la formazione, le infrastrutture e il mezzogiorno

Conférence pour l´emploi (Tripartite agreement in October, 2003 between social parties and federal government in Belgium)

Contributions to social dialogue and training - This Cinterfor/ILO series of publications gathers studies, analysis, opinions and documents on social dialogue, labour relations and vocational training. In the case of the studies on Argentina (no. 2), it includes, for example, an annex with lists and details on national conventions and agreements on vocational training.

Social pacts and framework agreements on employment and vocational training in Argentina, Mexico, Spain, France and Italy.
In: Ermida, O.; Rosenbaum, J. Vocational training in collective bargaining. Montevideo, Cinterfor, 1998.

Social dialogue, vocational training and right to integration

The integration processes of the region have produced a series of instruments of several levels of legal hierarchy (from compulsory standards for States to controlling systems of national legislations; from the implementation of programmes to general declarations about the importance of vocational training for a sustainable development).

The following texts are a selection of documents concerning the Southern Cone Common Market (Mercosur), the European Union, the North American Free Trade Agreement, the Andean Community and Central American Common Market.

Interesting documents on vocational training and social dialogue in the MERCOSUR

- Aditional Protocol to the Treaty of Asunción on the Institutional Structure of the MERCOSUR. Protocol of Ouro Preto (1994)

- MERCOSUR Social-labour Declaration , 10 December 1998

- MERCOSUR/Common Market Group/Resolution Nº 59/01 Vocational Training

- MERCOSUR/Common Market Council/Recommendation Nº 01/03 on the Index of Practical Recommendations on vocational training

Among European social and labour regulations concerning vocational training and social dialogue, the following can be mentioned:

- Community Charter of the Fundamental Social Rights of Workers

- Consolidated version of the Treaty establishing the European Community

- Regulation (EEC) N° 337/75 of the Council of 10 February 1975 establishing a European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training.

- Council Directive 94/45/EC, of 22 September 1994, on the establishment of a European Works Council or a procedure in Community-scale undertakings and Community-scale groups undertakings for the purposes of informing and consulting
employees.

- Directive 2002/14/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2002 establishing a general framework for informing and consulting employees in the European Community

- Council Resolution of 13 July 2001 on the role of education and training in employment related policies (2001/C 204/01)

- Council Directive 92/51/EEC of 18 June 1992on a second general system for the recognition of professional education and training to supplement Directive 89/48/EEC

- Council Decision 1999/311/EC of 29 April 1999 adopting the third phase of the trans-European cooperation scheme for higher education (Tempus III) (2000-2006)

- Council Directive 1999/70/EC of 28 June 1999 concerning the framework agreement on fixed-term work concluded by ETUC, UNICE and CEEP

- Council Directive 91/533/EEC of 14 October 1991 on an employer's obligation to inform employees of the conditions applicable to the contract or employment relationship

- Council Resolution of 15 July 2003 on Social and Human Capital Building social and human capital in the knowledge society: learning, work, social cohesion and gender (2003/C 175/02)

Within the North American Free Trade Agreement it is important to take into account the North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation , particularly those articles concerning social dialogue and labour law.

In the Andean Community the participation of social sectors its consecrated in article 44 of the Cartagena Agreement and in the Decisions 441, 442, 464 and 494 (available only in spanish)

Social and labor Issues - The CAN Advisory Council of Labor Ministers is taking action in the five areas of the Andean Common Market socio-labor dimension: employment promotion, labor education and training, security and health at work, social security and labor migration.

- Decision 553 - Guidelines for formulating the Integrated Social Development Plan

- Protocol of Substitution of the Simón Rodríguez Convention

- Decision 545 - Andean Labor Migration Instrument

- Middle of the World Declaration
Sixth Meeting of the CAN Advisory Council of Labor Ministers
Quito and Guayaquil, 14 and 15 July 2003 (available only in spanish)

In the Central American Integration System vocational training has been linked to the concept of "sustainable development":

- CENTRAL AMERICAN PRESIDENTS' SUMMIT (Ecological Summit) Managua, Nicaragua, 12 Octubre 1994
Central American Alliance for the Sustainable Development
Basis of the Alliance for the Sustainable Development

Annex - Specific Objectives of the Alliance for Sustainable Development

Links to regional integration websites:

North American Free Trade Agreement Secretariat (NAFTA):
http://www.nafta-sec-alena.org/DefaultSite/home/index_e.aspx?ArticleID=1

Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat: http://www.caricom.org/

General Secretary of the Central American Integration System: http://www.sgsica.org/

Andean Community: http://www.comunidadandina.org/

Southern Cone Common Market: http://www.mercosur.org.uy/

European Union: http://www.europa.eu.int