WSSD2 Brief
Peak-level social dialogue: An essential force for economic development and social progress
This brief highlights the role of peak-level social dialogue in fostering inclusive, legitimate policymaking and advancing the UN 2030 Agenda. It examines current challenges and gaps in participation, resources, and fundamental rights that affect its effectiveness.
Key considerations for WSSD2
- Peak-level social dialogue is a key governance mechanism that fosters collaboration between governments and employers’ and workers’ organizations (the social partners) to develop shared solutions to economic and social challenges. By leveraging the social partners’ democratic legitimacy and their first-hand expertise in the world of work, peak-level social dialogue contributes to more informed, responsive and legitimate policymaking.
- Peak-level social dialogue supports the three pillars of social development while aligning with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It plays a crucial role in shaping and implementing policies that promote decent work and sustainable economic growth, ensure fair labour income distribution and enable just digital and environmental transitions. It is also essential for repairing the “frayed social contract” and rebuilding trust between institutions and societies.
- Although peak-level social dialogue institutions are widespread, with national social dialogue institutions in 87 per cent of ILO Member States and the establishment of tripartite occupational safety and health bodies in around 80 per cent, questions about their inclusiveness and effectiveness remain.
- Challenges include deteriorating compliance with freedom of association and collective bargaining rights – which declined by 7 per cent globally between 2015 and 2023 – as well as the uneven involvement of social partners in peak-level social dialogue processes and under-resourced labour administrations and social dialogue institutions.
Additional details
References
- DOI: doi.org/10.54394/NBPV0394