The ILO report on peak-level social dialogue is presented in Spain at the headquarters of the Economic and Social Council (ESC)
Vera Paquete-Perdigao, Director of the ILO’s Governance and Tripartism Department, shared the main findings of the recently published ILO report on 23 April 2025 during a session of the ESC’s Aula Abierta series.
24 April 2025
During an engaging session with members of Spain’s Economic and Social Council, representatives of trade union, business and other social organizations, and distinguished experts, the ILO’s Director of Governance and Tripartism presented the main findings of the organization’s flagship report:
“Peak-level social dialogue for economic development and social progress”
Vera Paquete-Perdigao explained that Peak-Level Social Dialogue (PLSD) helps countries balance economic development with social justice by promoting inclusive productivity growth and ensuring decent work for all. She stressed that for its potential to be fully realized, it is essential to strengthen legal frameworks, institutional capacity, political will, and trust among social actors.
The Role and Challenges of National Social Dialogue Institutions.
In addition to the benefits and prerequisites required for Peak-Level Social Dialogue (PLSD) to take effect, the report examines the work of National Social Dialogue Institutions (NSDIs), which are in place in 87 percent of ILO member states. Most social partners view NSDIs as effective in strengthening labour rights, social protection, and crisis response. However, there is concern about insufficient resources and governments’ limited capacity to translate agreements into concrete policy measures. Participation of women in NSDI decision-making bodies remains low, and representation of workers from the informal economy is likewise inadequate.
Antón Costas, President of Spain’s Economic and Social Council, who chaired and moderated the session, recalled the important and historic collaboration between the ESC and the ILO, highlighted the significance of social dialogue in Spain, and pointed to the need to delve deeper into the issues examined in this report during the upcoming ILO-AICESIS meeting, which will soon bring together in Spain the representatives of Economic and Social Councils and similar institutions from around the world, alongside the ILO’s leading experts on social dialogue.
The ESC’s Aula Abierta cycle brings to the Council’s headquarters individuals of recognized prestige, key voices on the most current and relevant topics within the ESC’s remit.
Meeting with the Secretary of State for Labour
The Director of Governance and Tripartism took advantage of her visit to Madrid to meet with the Secretary of State for Labour, Joaquín Pérez Rey. They reviewed mutual areas of interest, especially in preparation for the 113th International Labour Conference to be held in Geneva in June. They also underscored the intense collaboration between the two institutions and agreed to deepen work on specific issues such as child labour and occupational safety and health, among others.
