Better work and life

EU Presidency conference on:

Better work and life: Towards an inclusive and competitive enlarged Union - 12-13 May 2003, Alexandroupolis, Greece

Co-organised by the Greek Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions

Speech abstract - Stavroula Demetriades

Research coordinator, European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions

Quality in industrial relations

Social dialogue and the quality of industrial relations are at the centre of the European social model. The Social Policy Agenda emphasises among other things the quality of industrial relations. The Lisbon strategy emphasises the role of social dialogue in addressing key challenges facing Europe today.

The Foundation has been active in monitoring and supporting the social dialogue debate mainly through the European Industrial Relations Observatory (EIRO). EIRO monitors developments in industrial relations through its correspondents in all member states (now extending to all accession and candidate countries). Additionally, industrial relations issues are researched, putting emphasis on indicators of industrial relations in an effort to assist policy-makers (public authorities, social partners) and to support social dialogue.

Our work on the indicators of industrial relations takes into consideration the following:

• Actors

• Processes

• Outcomes

as well as:

• national differences in employment and industrial relations

• 'shifting frontiers' of national and European industrial relations, their interrelation and dynamics resulting from a synergy of these processes

• cross-country perspectives

• cross-border industrial relations in European regions

Issues such as, industrial action, workers participation, coverage of collective agreements, arbitration and mediation, working time arrangements, financial participation schemes, European Works Councils (EWC), are all essential elements of the industrial relations systems and are monitored.

To take the issue of the EWCs, the Foundation research covers areas such as the nature of the agreements, their form and scope, their role and competence, the composition of EWC, issues of information and consultation, etc. It appears that the most common issues the EWC seek to address are those dealing with the economic and financial situation, employment and social issues, business, production and sales, structure, transfer of production, closures, etc. Recently increased corporate restructuring draws attention to the role the EWC can play in company restructuring. In a number of cases EWC have concluded joint texts.

Across all member states financial participation becomes increasingly important in companies. Foundation research concluded that:

• Profit-sharing schemes were found in 24% of companies, employees share ownership schemes were present in 9% of workplaces while only 4% had both forms

• In general, smaller family controlled private companies are not in favour of financial participation

• There is an increase in productivity when employee share ownership is combined with other forms of employee participation

• There is no evidence of a decreased need or desire for union representation in firms with employee share ownership schemes

Finally, migration is an issue very much connected to the labour market developments with many people migrating for reasons of work. Migration is very important in terms of industrial relations. It can play a role in meeting employers' needs for labour, in the light of demographic change or skills shortages, while at the same time raising questions such as the relationship between migrant workers and nationals who are unemployed or the fair treatment of migrant workers in employment.

Findings by the Foundation show that:

• Migrants are concentrated at the top and bottom ends of the labour market

• Immigration will remain an important subject for both the government and social partners in the years to come given demographic factors and recent studies

• An integrated approach and cooperation with social partners still offers better chances for success

• The topic has not achieved a significant place on the collective bargaining agenda in most countries

• Overall, the views of the social partners are not fundamentally opposed

Stavroula Demetriades is co-ordinator of the Industrial Relations research area in the Foundation. After studying political science and regional development in Greece and Denmark, her work experience comprised management and consultancy in the public and private sector. She is responsible for the development and implementation of research projects in the field of industrial relations and is in charge of the European Industrial Relations Observatory (EIRO). Stavroula is responsible for the organisation of the conference on better work and life in an enlarged European Union, jointly organised by the Foundation and the Greek Ministry of Employment and Social Affairs, under the auspices of the EU Presidency. She is also a member of the Foundation's working group on extending equal opportunities for men and women.