The Belgian industrial relations system in a comparative context David Foden Brussels, October 25th 2018
Structure of presentation What is Eurofound? Key features of the Belgian IR system IR systems compared The traditional clusters Where does Belgium fit? A different view Eurofound s key dimensions of IR
Centre of expertise
Mission To provide knowledge to assist in the development of better social, employment and work-related policies. (1975 Foundation Regulation)
Governance
Key features of Belgian IR system Organisational density - high Collective bargaining coverage - high Articulation of collective bargaining structured, including cross-sectoral level Coordination of wage-setting - high Wage indexation, minimum wages, wage norm specific features State role - supportive Employee representation - TU, WC (100+), H+S (50+) high incidence
IR systems compared IR regime Role of state in IR Role of SP in public policy Predominant bargaining level Bargaining style Employee representation Power balance Organised Social corporatism partnership Limited Shadow of (mediator) hierarchy Institutionalised Liberal pluralism Transition economies Nonintervention Organiser of transition Rare Irregular event-driven politicised Company Unionbased/high coverage Labouroriented Sector State-centred Frequent intervention Irregular politicised Sector and/or company Integrating Distributive/conflict-oriented Acquiescent Dual channel/high coverage Variable/mixed Union-based/low coverage Balanced Alternating Employeroriented State
Where Belgium fits IR regime Organised corporatism Social partnership State-centred Liberal pluralism Transition economies Countries Denmark Sweden Finland Norway Austria Belgium Germany Luxembourg Netherlands Slovenia Greece France Spain Italy Portugal Cyprus Ireland Malta UK Bulgaria Croatia Czech- Republic Estonia Hungary Latvia Lithuania Poland Romania Slovakia
Eurofound s key dimensions of IR Mapping key dimensions of industrial relations (Eurofound, 2016): conceptual framework and preselected indicators 2016-2017 follow-up study Mapping varieties of industrial relations: Eurofound's analytical framework applied: dashboard of 45 indicators, CAR 2018 Mapping the functioning of social dialogue at national level Applying the key dimensions - forthcoming
Conceptual framework
Dimensions and sub-dimensions
Forthcoming report improve the current dashboard critical review of the set of indicators replace indicators in some of the dimensions by another set of indicators or composite indicators which have already been built by other institutions (industrial competitiveness, quality of work and employment or social justice) develop composite indicators (for each key dimensions and national IR systems)
Composite indicators structure structure 4 key dimensions 11 subdimensions 47 indicators
Typology objective and methodology objective better understanding of country-specific diversity in terms of IR and patterns of change. Group countries with similar characteristics of industrial democracy: levels of performance and IR actors, institutions and processes methodology JRC & OECD: selection of indicators: ID index indicators + contextual indicators: 1) collective bargaining institutions or structures; 2) the role played by the state in collective bargaining and wage regulation; two time periods
Typology dimensions dimensions associational governance (sub-dimension index indicators + contextual indicators: coordination and centralisation of collective bargaining, extension mechanisms) Representation and participation rights (sub-dimension index indicators) Social dialogue at company level (sub-dimension index indicators) Trade unions strength and government intervention in industrial relations (index indicator: trade union's density + contextual indicators: government intervention in collective bargaining and minimum wage) cross-time stability but some clear evolving trends (Greece shifts cluster) clustering both consistent with other typologies and highlighting relevant cross-country differences (Germany, West & Central-Eastern countries)
Typology - clusters
Social partnership
Organised corporatism
State-centred associational governance
Company-centred governance
Voluntarist associational governance
Market-oriented governance
Belgium Belgium EU28 Industrial democracy 100 80 Quality of work and employment 60 40 20 0 Industrial competitiveness Social justice