ILO and Eurofound joint event

Social dialogue as a pillar of resilience and social cohesion: How to strengthen the collective approach?

The ILO and Eurofound jointly hosted an event on the challenges to promote collective bargaining at the national level.


The ILO and Eurofound jointly hosted an in-person event on the challenges to promote collective bargaining at the national level. The event took place on Tuesday 14 June 2022 from 10.30 until 12.00, followed by a networking lunch. It marked the launch of the ILO Social Dialogue report 2022 in Brussels. 

Programme

10.00 - Registration and coffee for in-person attendees

10.20 - Online opening for virtual attendees

10.30 - Start of event and welcome words by moderator, Lieve Verboven, Director of the ILO Office to the EU and the Benelux countries

10.35 - Presentation by Eurofound and ILO experts:
  • David Foden, Adviser Industrial relations, Eurofound
  • Dora Sari, Senior Industrial Relations Specialist, International Labour Organization (ILO) 
10.50 - Discussion with social partner panel:
  • Claes-Mikael Ståhl, Deputy General Secretary European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC)
  • Kris De Meester, Senior Advisor, Federation of Enterprises in Belgium (FEB)
  • Nicolas Schmit, EU Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights
11.25 - Comments by Irene Wennemo, Director General, National Mediation Office, Sweden

11.35 - Q&A audience managed by moderator, Lieve Verboven, Director of the ILO Office to the EU and the Benelux countries (onsite Questions only)

11.50 - Key takeaway points from the social partners

11.56 - Wrap-up by moderator and closing

12.00 - Networking and light lunch for in-person attendees

Background


Collective bargaining and wider social dialogue have played an essential role in responding effectively to the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic and social crisis which ensued. However, the decline in coverage of collective bargaining over recent decades in the context of structural and labour market change has created even greater challenges for collective interest representation.

Taking place against the backdrop of the European Commission’s initiative on strengthening social dialogue in the EU and a proposal for a Council Recommendation on the role of social dialogue at national level, the event will be an opportunity for experts from Eurofound and the ILO to share their research findings and explore, with a panel of key European social partners, the critical issues at the core of promoting robust and lasting collective bargaining across the EU.

More information

ILO publication: Social Dialogue Report 2022: Collective bargaining for an inclusive, sustainable and resilient recovery
Eurofound publication: Reinforcing social dialogue in the context of the move towards the green and digital transitions: Background paper