Industrial Relations in Europe 2012 - European Commission - Europa

Involvement has included participation in round tables and
discussions on labour market measures to respond to the crisis.
France Strong Long tradition of social partner involvement in unemployment
benefit, which has continued during the crisis and beyond the
creation of the employment agency Pole Emploi.
Germany Strong The social partners maintain involvement in unemployment
benefit and labour market policy through the tripartite nature of
the Board of Governors of the Federal Employment Agency and
the administrative committees of local employment agencies
Hungary Developing Previous strong involvement in the development of
unemployment benefit systems was discontinued in 2011 with
the abolition of national tripartite bodies in this area.
Italy Strong The involvement of the social partners is continuing and may
even be strengthened in some cases
Latvia Weak Involvement of the social partners in unemployment benefit has
not changed during the crisis.
Lithuania Weak Involvement of the social partners in unemployment benefit has
not changed during the crisis, due to continuing dominance of the
government.
Continuing
strong position
Continuing
strong position
Weakened
during the crisis
Continuing
strong position
Continuing
weak position
Continuing
weak position
Luxembourg Strong Opinions of the social partners regularly taken on board Continuing
strong position
Netherlands Strong The influence of the social partners in unemployment benefit
policy has been weakened over the past decade. The government
is now formulating reforms in the crisis in which the social
partners are not being involved to the extent that they were
previously.
Poland Weak Involvement of the social partners in unemployment benefit has
not changed during the crisis.
Portugal Strong Decreasing influence due to the economic situation of the
country in the context of the crisis.
Romania Developing Since 2009 the social partners have been financing projects
aimed at the vocational training, counselling, and the
professional readjustment of unemployed people.
Slovenia Weak The social partners have traditionally not been active in the
development or administration of unemployment benefits.
However, during the crisis, they have been more active in
reaction to unpopular government measures. The most successful
example of recent social partner cooperation is the development
of the Labour Market Regulation Act of January 2011, aimed at
improving the status and conditions of unemployed people.
Sweden Strong The social partners were not closely involved in unemployment
insurance reforms in 2007. The reforms are believed to have
damaged union strength. In the crisis, the reform appears to have
made it more difficult for outsiders to gain access to the labour
market. The social partners and government are unsure of the
way forward.
Source: Eurofound (2012)
Weakened
during the crisis
Continuing
weak position
Weakened
during the crisis
Increased
during the crisis
Increased
during the crisis
Weakened
during the crisis
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