Home page > Topics > Topic 1, Workshop 4 : Transnational social dialogue: finding the way to consolidation

Topic 1 : What kind of global chain of trade for fair development?

Workshop 1.4 : Transnational social dialogue: finding the way to consolidation

Complete file of the workshop _ English and french version

Workshops Topic 1 :

The internationalisation of companies and sectors is occurring in a context of competition which favours the development of certain regions of the world. At the same time, existing regulations do not prevent social dumping, which contributes to increasing inequality, even within a single country. In order to ensure that opening economies to world trade does not result in them being levelled down, but rather, becomes a driving force for shared development, social dialogue must be fostered at the level where decisions are made.

To do so, we must take account of the economic and social situation in a single production chain or in a single company with locations in several regions of the world. The development of social dialogue and of transnational negotiation have already enabled significant progress in certain sectors and in some multinational corporations: European Works Councils (EWC) have developed in the legal and contractual framework of the EU. Their geographic scope has occasionally spread to include transnational framework agreements. Nongovernmental organisations have also participated in actions to address the issues surrounding social responsibility.

This workshop will use concrete examples to identify ways of encouraging more in-depth and effective development of transnational social dialogue and negotiation and propose strategies to encourage their deployment.

The following questions will be covered:

How effective have EWCs been, what changes or improvements are most needed? • Some EWCs cover a wide geographic area. Can this European initiative be transferred to other continents or regions of world?
What are the links with national social dialogue, with sectorial social dialogue and European inter-sectorial dialogue? • How effective have existing transnational agreements been, in terms of content, companies and sectors? What evaluation methods exist?
How can environmental and socially-oriented NGOs become involved?
How can we encourage negotiation and implementation of transnational agreements (representation and powers of the signatories; information and training for partners involved at all levels; monitoring; means of recourse, etc.)?
Given the lack of an international legal framework, how can the enforcement and monitoring of transnational framework agreements be ensured?

This Workshop has been prepared in coordination with Michel Rousselot, Adviser for the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC).

Speakers

Chair: Franck Riboud, Chief Executive Officer, Danone Group

Workshop Moderator: Gerry Rodgers, Director, International Institute for Labour Studies, International Labour Organization (ILO)

Study Presentors:

Natacha Seguin, Research Manager, Alpha Group
Cristiano Stanzani, Director General, Social Development Agency (SDA)

Case Study Presentors:

Florence Cordier, CSR and International Social Dialogue Manager, EDF, France
Manuel Rodriguez, Senior Vice-President, Chiquita Brands

Discussants:

Walter Cerfeda, Confederal Secretary, European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC)
Ludovic Hennebel, Research Fellow of the Université Libre de Bruxelles, member, Fédération Internationale des Ligues des Droits de l'Homme (FIDH), Belgium
Ron Oswald, Secretary General, International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations (UITA – IUF)

Help - The Forum - Partners - Topic for 2006 - Program - Organisers
Press Room - Contacts - Documentation - Site Map