After two years of COVID-19 lockdown and amid growing pressure for the classic “9 to 5” business model – from zero-hours contracts to telework – ILO Director-General Guy Ryder emphasize on Thursday that voluntary negotiations known as collective bargaining have proven their worth.
“Workers want to keep their heads above the water, when prices are as high as they are now, and they want to ensure workplace safety and ensure paid sick leave has proven to be very important in the workplace.” the past two years,” he told journalists in Geneva. “For their part, employers have welcomed agreements that allow them to retain skilled and experienced workers, so they can restart, recover and recover.”
He added: “The higher the percentage of workers with collective agreement, the lower the wage inequality. And there is more equality and diversity in the workplace. ”
Keep floating
Under a new report of the United Nations agency, more than a third of its staff in 98 countries, currently have collective bargaining wages, hours and other occupational conditions.
But there is a significant difference between countries, the ILO says, from more than 75% of workers with collective agreements in many European countries and Uruguay, to less than 25%, in about half of the countries that have collective agreements. data.
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ILO’s Social Dialogue 2022 Report shows that collective bargaining agreements have helped protect jobs and people’s incomes.
“ Collective bargaining has played an important role during the pandemic in forging resilience by protecting workers and businesses, ensuring business continuity, saving save jobs and incomes,” said Mr. Ryder, noting that mutual agreements have also helped ease the concerns of millions of workers by enhancing occupational safety and health in the workplace. , along with paid sick leave and health care.
he said. “And temporary workers have had their contracts extended or converted to permanent contracts so they can maintain their income.”
New hybrid reality
After two years of upheaval in the workplace caused by the coronavirus, post-pandemic collective agreements have now evolved to reflect the new realities of working from home and “hybrid” working practices. other, said the Director-General of the ILO.
“Agreements have focused on unifying equal opportunity, integrating on-site and remote working methods, redefining working hours for the right to disconnect, and addressing common concerns. of workers and employers on cybersecurity and data privacy,” he said, calling for more countries to join the dialogue between workers’ and employers’ organizations.
“There are very good reasons to strengthen the institutions that facilitate collective bargaining,” he continued. “Employer and worker organizations need to be strong to ensure the legitimacy of the agreed solutions, and in the face of the proliferation of diverse forms of work, we need to ensure ensure effective recognition of the right to effective collective bargaining for all workers in need. of protection. ”
