Tracing the potential benefits and complex contingencies of multilevel collective bargaining

Abstract

This article reviews the international evidence for economic benefits of multilevel collective bargaining, indicating that the expected gains are highly contingent and depend upon a raft of interlocking enabling conditions. We argue that the process of institutional reform requires that particular attention be paid to four key factors - a country's political commitment to social dialogue, the degree of understanding of the complex institutional architecture of collective bargaining, the prioritizing of inclusive democratic representation and the resources available to invest in the capacities of workers' and employers' organizations. The article concludes by setting out key policy issues.