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Relaciones laborales

Tanto los sindicatos, como las organizaciones patronales y las autoridades públicas desempeñan un papel en la gobernanza de la relación de empleo. Se trata de partes interconectadas en un sistema que funciona a escala europea, nacional, sectorial, regional, y empresarial. En los últimos años, a medida que evolucionan la tecnología y las formas de trabajo en el marco de un entorno económico en permanente transformación, los sistemas de relaciones laborales han afrontado retos fundamentales.

En este contexto, la Comisión Europea puso en marcha en 2015 un «nuevo comienzo» del diálogo social europeo. En una declaración conjunta de junio de 2016, la Comisión, el Consejo de la Unión Europea y los interlocutores sociales subrayaron el papel esencial de dicho diálogo como componente significativo de la formulación de políticas sociales y de empleo en la UE.

Topic

Recent updates

EU context

La labor de Eurofound

A lo largo de 40 años, Eurofound se ha consolidado como centro fundamental de recursos técnicos especializados para el seguimiento y el análisis de las tendencias en el ámbito de las relaciones laborales. Entre los temas considerados figuran los vínculos entre el diálogo social europeo y de ámbito nacional. Sobre la base del conocimiento de su Red de corresponsales europeos en 28 Estados miembros de la UE y Noruega, ha examinado la evolución seguida en todos los Estados miembros y en la UE en su conjunto. 

Aportaciones fundamentales

Eurofound ha elaborado diversos análisis comparativos, artículos y estudios de caso en toda la UE28 y Noruega en el área de las relaciones laborales, así como bases de datos actualizadas periódicamente sobre asuntos afines.

En un reciente estudio se catalogan y analizan las dimensiones e indicadores fundamentales que atañen a los sistemas de relaciones laborales en Europa en el siglo XXI. En otra vía de la investigación se considera el modo en que los interlocutores sociales en la UE y Noruega han afrontado nuevos temas, instrumentos y enfoques innovadores para dar respuesta a los numerosos desafíos políticos, jurídicos y sociales que se han planteado en los últimos años.

La remuneración y el tiempo de trabajo siguen siendo áreas de alto interés y se revisan cada año. Dos de las cuestiones en las que se centra el reciente informe sobre remuneración son, por un lado, los niveles salariales mínimos establecidos por ley en toda la UE, y por el otro, la negociación salarial colectiva.

Desde 2006, Eurofound ha llevado a cabo estudios sobre la representatividad de las organizaciones sectoriales europeas de interlocutores sociales, conforme al mandato establecido por la Comisión Europea.

Recursos

Informes sobre la evolución de la vida laboral 

Eurofound proporciona datos sistemáticos y comparables sobre los sistemas de relaciones laborales nacionales y los avances en el terreno de la vida laboral, sirviéndose a tal efecto de herramientas de seguimiento e información, sobre la base de las aportaciones de su Red de corresponsales europeos en los 28 Estados miembros y Noruega.

 

Key outputs

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This report examines the average weekly working hours across Europe in 2021 and 2022. It covers important developments resulting from legislative reforms in collective bargaining at national or sectoral level...

24 Octubre 2023
Publication
Research report
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La revisión anual de los salarios mínimos de 2023 se elaboró en el contexto de una inflación sin precedentes en toda Europa. Aunque esto dio lugar a fuertes aumentos de...

29 Junio 2023
Publication
Research report
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Como parte de su mandato de promover el diálogo entre los interlocutores sociales, Eurofound ha realizado un seguimiento y un análisis de la evolución de los sistemas de relaciones laborales...

11 Diciembre 2020
Publication
Flagship report

Current and ongoing research

 

Other ongoing work

    • Social dialogue in companies, particularly linkages that can be drawn between national and EU level, to better understand of cooperation mechanisms used in decision-making and implementation in multinational companies
    • Exploration of the role of national social partners in the European semester and analysis of quality and effectiveness of their involvement
    • Summary of discussions on capacity-building social dialogue to support a meaningful and effective social dialogue
    • A flagship report on industrial relations covering topics related to both social dialogue and working life developments, including updates on collectively agreed pay
    • Representativeness studies on a variety of sectors to provide the European Commission required information to assess the representativeness of European sectoral social partner organisations
    • Highlights of recent developments of selected features of working life in so called topical updates, with one featuring statutory minimum wages
    • Updated time series in EurWORK database of wages, working time and collective disputes
    • Updated time series and update on developments in collectively agreed pay
    • Exploring the feasibility for an Industrial Action Monitor

    Eurofound expert(s)

    ricardo-rodriguez-contreras-2023.png

    Ricardo Rodriguez Contreras is a research manager in the Working Life unit at Eurofound and focuses on comparative industrial relations, social dialogue and collective bargaining...

    Research manager,
    Working life research unit
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    Victoria Cojocariu is a research support officer for the representativeness studies in the Working Life unit at Eurofound. She is responsible for the management of the research...

    Research support officer,
    Working life research unit
    Publications results (516)

    In 2022, the European Semester process was updated to take into account the launch of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) in February 2021. Over the past year, Member States have implemented national recovery and resilience plans (RRPs) in a context of huge geopolitical and economic upheaval

    29 March 2023

    This paper provides an overview of the involvement of the social partners in policymaking and social dialogue in recent years, primarily at national peak level. It will focus on the evolution of social dialogue over the past decade and a half in terms of its response to external shocks, focusing on

    20 March 2023

    This study provides information allowing for an assessment of the representativeness of the actors involved in the European sectoral social dialogue committee for the civil aviation sector. Their relative representativeness legitimises their right to be consulted, their role and effective participat

    20 December 2022

    This document examines the process of assessing the representativeness of the actors involved in the European sectoral social dialogue committee for the civil aviation sector. It summarises the findings from a comprehensive study on representativeness in this sector. The study identifies ETF, ECA an

    20 December 2022

    This study provides information allowing for an assessment of the representativeness of the actors involved in the European sectoral social dialogue committee for the textile and clothing sector. Their relative representativeness legitimises their right to be consulted, their role and effective

    20 December 2022

    This document examines the process of assessing the representativeness of the actors involved in the European sectoral social dialogue committee for the textile and clothing sector. It summarises the findings from a comprehensive study on representativeness in this sector. The study identifies Indus

    20 December 2022

    This study provides information allowing for an assessment of the representativeness of the actors involved in the European sectoral social dialogue committee for the electricity sector. Their relative representativeness legitimises their right to be consulted, their role and effective participation

    02 December 2022

    El presente informe se lleva a cabo en el contexto del proyecto piloto trienal (2021-2023), «El papel del salario mínimo en el establecimiento de la Garantía Laboral Universal», encargado a Eurofound por la Comisión Europea. Se centra en el módulo 3 del proyecto, en el que se analizan los salarios

    30 November 2022

    This study provides information allowing for an assessment of the representativeness of the actors involved in the European sectoral social dialogue committee for the Food and drink sector. Their relative representativeness legitimises their right to be consulted, their role and effective

    23 November 2022

    This working paper investigates the practical implementation of the European Works Council (EWC) Directive at company level. It explores the challenges faced by existing EWCs and provides examples of solutions identified and remaining issues from the point of view of both workers and management. In

    25 October 2022

    Online resources results (1688)

    Estonia: Latest working life developments - Q3 2016

    A new three-year sectoral collective agreement for bus drivers, concerns about transposition of the Enforcement Directive, and social policy reforms are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working life in Estonia in the third quarter

    Slovenia: Latest working life developments – Q3 2016

    Wage negotiations in the public sector, the suspension of dialogue between employer organisations and the government over tax amendments, and protests by assistant kindergarten teachers regarding pay are among the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest

    Cyprus: Latest working life developments – Q3 2016

    A strike by primary school teachers and the resumption of public service recruitment are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working life in Cyprus in the third quarter of 2016.

    Austria: Latest working life developments – Q3 2016

    The labour market integration of refugees and asylum seekers, together with discussions about the types of jobs unemployed people should accept, are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working life in Austria in the third quarter of

    EU Level: Latest working life developments – Q3 2016

    Issues related to work–life balance, the launch of the public consultation on social rules in road transport and some developments in social dialogue are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working life in the European Union in the

    Slovakia: Latest working life developments – Q3 2016

    Differences between social partners on a proposal to increase the minimum wage, demands by industrial trade unions for higher wages and strike action by teachers are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working life in Slovakia in the

    Germany: Latest working life developments – Q3 2016

    Falling unemployment and an improved business outlook, the views of social partners on proposed equal pay legislation, and the rise of the right-wing AfD party are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working life in Germany in the

    United Kingdom: Latest working life developments – Q3 2016

    The Prime Minister’s statements on Brexit at the Conservative Party conference, labour market developments and the latest developments in the junior doctors’ dispute are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working life in the United

    Czech Republic: Latest working life developments - Q3 2016

    Significant wage increases in many sectors, positive results from public opinion surveys, amendment of the Labour Code and easier rules on employing low-qualified Ukrainian workers are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working life

    Sweden: Latest working life developments – Q3 2016

    A proposal to change the state pension age, suggested changes to requirements for public procurement contracts and an increase in the use of permanent employment contracts are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working life in


    Blogs results (18)
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    Minimum wages have risen significantly in 2022, as the EU Member States leave behind the cautious mood of the pandemic. However, rising inflation is eating up these wage increases, and only flexibility in the regular minimum wage setting processes may avoid generalised losses in purchasing power

    15 Junio 2022
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    In the context of the ongoing trend of a fall in collective bargaining coverage, and recent calls at EU level to promote collective bargaining coverage as an instrument to support fair and decent wages, new data from Eurofound’s fourth European Company Survey (ECS) show that two-thirds of workers

    28 Octubre 2020
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    The coronavirus disease (Covid-19) is having drastic consequences for the world of work. In most European countries workers who are not delivering essential ‘frontline’ services are being asked to stay home. Unfortunately many are out of work, while many of those who are not are minimum-wage and low

    1 Abril 2020
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    As one of their ‘100 days in office’ initiatives, the new European Commission intends to propose an initiative for an EU minimum wage. The aim is that by 2024 every worker in the EU should earn a fair and adequate wage, no matter where they live.

    15 Enero 2020
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    Trade unions in many EU Member States face the issue of declining membership. This is a fundamental challenge for organised labour, but it is premature to speak about the redundancy unions: when it comes to important decisions affecting the workplace, restructuring being one, trade unions remain a

    20 Noviembre 2019
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    The International Labour Organization (ILO) met for the first time 100 years ago, and right at the top of the agenda for discussion for this new specialised UN agency was the 8-hour working day. This discussion subsequently resulted in the Hours of Work (Industry) Convention, which stated that ‘The

    12 Noviembre 2019
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    The European Platform Tackling Undeclared Work last year documented the case of a Dutch temporary work agency that hired workers of various nationalities to work for a construction company in Belgium. The wages were suspiciously low, and the Belgian Labour Inspectorate believed that EU law

    17 Julio 2019
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    The votes have been cast, tallied and declared and we can now see the political landscape of the new European Parliament. It is a complex picture: there has been growth of far-right and populist parties, but well short of what was projected, and at the same time there has been a boost for pro

    30 Mayo 2019
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    Seniority entitlements have largely been on the decline since the 1990s, and have been gradually phased-out from legislation in Europe, as well as in collective agreements. However, it would be premature to dismiss seniority-based entitlements as a thing of the past, as they remain in force across

    17 Abril 2019
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    In this blog piece, originally published in Social Europe, Karel Fric and Camilla Galli da Bino look at the issue of discrimination against men in the workplace in Europe, and the current lack of research in this area.

    1 Mayo 2018

    Upcoming publications results (9)

    This report reviews the quality of the national social partners’ involvement in the implementation of the reforms and investments shaping the digital and green transition in the context of national policymaking. These reforms and investments stem mainly from the Recovery and Resilience Facility.

    March 2025

    This study provides information allowing for an assessment of the representativeness of the actors involved in the European sectoral social dialogue committee for the extractive industries sector. Their relative representativeness legitimises their right to be consulted, their role and effective par

    December 2024

    This study provides information allowing for an assessment of the representativeness of the actors involved in the European sectoral social dialogue committee for the construction sector. Their relative representativeness legitimises their right to be consulted, their role and effective participatio

    December 2024

    This study provides information allowing for an assessment of the representativeness of the actors involved in the European sectoral social dialogue committee for the chemical sector. Their relative representativeness legitimises their right to be consulted, their role and effective participation in

    December 2024

    This study provides information allowing for an assessment of the representativeness of the actors involved in the European sectoral social dialogue committee for the road transport sector. Their relative representativeness legitimises their right to be consulted, their role and effective participat

    December 2024

    This study provides information allowing for an assessment of the representativeness of the actors involved in the European sectoral social dialogue committee for the postal and courier activities sector. Their relative representativeness legitimises their right to be consulted, their role and effec

    November 2024

    This study provides information allowing for an assessment of the representativeness of the actors involved in the European sectoral social dialogue committee for the graphical industry. Their relative representativeness legitimises their right to be consulted, their role and effective participation

    November 2024

    This publication comprises individual country reports on developments in working life in each of the 27 EU Member States and Norway in 2023, based on national research and survey results.

    June 2024

    The 2024 annual review of minimum wages presents the most recent rates of national minimum wages and recalls how they were set and agreed upon during 2023. It includes information on minimum wages set in sectoral collective agreements in countries without national minimum wages.

    June 2024

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