Social Dialogue in Practice: Tripartite Systems

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Social Dialogue in Practice Tripartite Systems

• The Austrian Experience
• Robert Murr, Central Labour Inspectorate, Austria

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Tripartite Systems - Austrian ExperiencesSurvey
of the following presentation

• Preconditions of Austrian tripartite cooperation
  the Austrian Social partnership1. A rough
  history of interest groups and social
  partnership2. The main associations3. Political
  role, functioning and criticism of social
  partnership
• Legally institutionalised and other forms of
  cooperation in occupational health and safety
• Conclusions

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Preconditions and preliminaries of Austrian
Social Partnership short history

• Social partnership with its implications for
  social peace - an Austrian characteristic
• Foundation of Trade Unions and Chambers of
  Commerce in the 2nd half of 19th century, though
  prohibition against Unions is predominant.
• The interim beginnings 1920 Legal institution
  of Chambers of Labour and of Commerce deletion
  by fascism
• The origins of social partnership 1945
  Reconstruction and combined efforts for peace

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Preconditions and preliminariesAustrian Social
Partnership the roots 1945

• Combined efforts for
• containing inflation and wage-price-spiral
• urgent actions for basic industry and supply
  (incl. socialisation)
• meeting common expectations of consensus and
  harmony.
• Social partnership extends into many aspects of
  national economics and social policy (incl.
  industrial relations, OSH, labour market).

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Austrian Social PartnershipMain associations
Austrian Federal Economic Chamber approx.
320.000 members
Federal Chamber of Labour approx. 2, 600.000
members
Chambers of Agriculture approx. 267.000 members
Austrian Trade Union Federation approx. 1,
400.000 members
Federation of Austrian Industry approx. 21.000
enterprises
Total Austrian population 8 millions
Employers
Workers
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Austrian Social PartnershipPolitical role and
functioning

• Chambers as unique institutions membership by
  law
• High degree of representativeness
• Close linkages between associations and political
  parties foster political influence and tripartite
  cooperation
• Continuous involvement in law-making and
  outstanding controversial decisions
• Legally institutionalised or informal cooperation
  (Committees, Advisory boards, commissions)
• Background stimulus avoiding and settlement of
  conflicts is a prevalent value

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Days on strike
(working days lost due to strikers per 1000
employees annual average from 1971 to 2000)
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Austrian Social PartnershipPros and criticism

• Support policy makers with social and economic
  know-how
• Reliable basis of political decisions
• Vicinity to social and economic needs of workers
  and employers
• Come to stable compromises
• Legimitacy by periodical elections within
  Chambers et al.

• Social Partnership as secondary government
• Lack of democratic legitimacy no anchorage in
  the constitution
• Momentum of organisational interests
• Harmony at the price of public disinterest

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Austrian tripartite system in OSHCooperation
according to law - 1

• Occupational Safety and Health CommitteeOrganis
  ation
• Advisory Committee at federal level
• Chaired by the Director General of Labour
  Inspection
• Participation of Chambers, Austrian Trade Union
  Federation and other associations of the
  Austrian Social Insurance for Occupational
  RisksSubjects
• Principal questions of occupational safety and
  health and risk prevention
• Preventive services provided by the Austrian
  Social Insurance for Occupational Risks

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Austrian tripartite system in OSHCooperation
according to law - 2

• Regional Labour Inspectorates and Social
  Partners
• Labour inspectors advise and support for
  employers and workers
• Right of the Chambers to participate in controls
• Safety representatives Notification to Chamber
  of Labour
• Legal obligation to cooperate with interest
  associations meetings at least twice a year at
  regional level
• Practically experienced progress in utilisation
  of preventive services in SMEs

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Austrian tripartite system in OSHConsuetudinary
cooperation - 1

• Law-making process at national and EU-level
• Continuous request for opinion and consensus
• Proposal and negotiation on occupational exposure
  limits
• Voluntary agreements
• Austrian Guidelines for Health and Safety
  Management Systems
• Recommendation for a maximum weight of cement
  bags (25k.)
• Common projects
• Long term project for healthier working
  conditions in bakeries reduction of risks from
  flour dust (allergic reactions, dust explosions)

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Austrian tripartite system in OSHConsuetudinary
cooperation - 2

• Information network
• Preparation and distribution of information in
  cooperation with the Bilbao Agency
• Participation in Labour Inspections conferences
  every two years
• State Award for Safety at Work
• Promotion of initiatives by enterprises for
  improving the quality of working best practices
• Evaluation and election

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Tripartite system in OSHThe Austrian experience
- Conclusions

• Tripartite cooperation multiplies awareness of
  safety and health concerns
• Raising acceptance of compulsory safety and
  health measures
• Ease conflicts of interests at enterprise level
• Support modern Labour Inspection Provide for
  advise and conviction
• Representativeness as a factor Give Social
  Partners opportunities for success

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The End

• Thank you very much for your kind attention!