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Sectoral social dialogue in Hungary

Sectoral social dialogue in Hungary

Tamás Székely

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BackgroundBackground• 1989 NCC• 1992 VDSZ CA with multiple employers• level of collective bargaining- the workplace• sectoral CA:

– catering industry– baking industry– electricity workers

• representation of the economic interest of employers’ organisations

• low organisation rate of employers• employers’ organisations established under the

pressure of trade unions

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The history of SSDCThe history of SSDC

• 2001a Phare programme project• 2003- establishemnt of sectoral social

dialogue committees in Hungary• 2009: parliamentary decision on

„sectoral social dialogue committees and certain issues of social dialogue at the mezzo level ( Act LXXIV.)

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The institutional system of social dialogue

The institutional system of social dialogue

• autonomous social dialogue• dialogue committees at the sectoral, sub-sectoral and

branch level• Task:

– promote the development of the sector, – develop appropriate working conditions,– promote labour market processes.

• wrong grouping ( TEAOR )

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Sectoral social dialogue committees

Sectoral social dialogue committees

• forums at the mezzo level

• mediate the problems with national scope to the macro level

• the achievements of the sectoral level can be introduced at the company level through the collective agreements

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The activities of sectoral social dialogue committees

The activities of sectoral social dialogue committees

• situation and development of the sector

• economic and labour processes

• consultation and mutual information

• declarations on the proposals and positions of the SSDC

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The activities of sectoral social dialogue committees

The activities of sectoral social dialogue committees

• collective negotiations at the sectoral level

• prepare studies, analyses• organise conferences, seminars and

training courses• organise study tours on specific issues• international contacts

Sectoral social dialogue committees

Sectoral social dialogue committees

• participate in the work of the European Sectoral Social Dialogue Committees

• consult with the government and its organisations to include the approach and the interest of the actors at sectoral level in the national concepts, plans and programmes

• close contacts to the responsible ministries. A nominated expert of the ministries assess the documents prepared by the sectoral partners.

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The Council of sectoral social dialogue committees

The Council of sectoral social dialogue committees

• trilateral body• comprises of the leaders of the tables of

the SSDC• general operating conditions• steering committee, economic

committee• consultation, positions,

recommendations, decisions

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Committee on Sectoral participation

Committee on Sectoral participation

Examines• the legality of the establishment or

termination of the SSDC• the sectoral representativity• sectoral expansion of CAs• 35 SSDC-s were established before

January 2010

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SSDCs of member organisations of EMCEF

SSDCs of member organisations of EMCEF

• Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee of the Mining Industry

• Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee of the Chemical Industry

• Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee of the Gas Industry

• Sub- Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee of the Pharmaceutic Industry

• Sub- Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee of the Electric Energy Industry

• Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee of the Construction Industry

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Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee of the Mining Industry

Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee of the Mining Industry

• 1992: signature of the first wage agreement

• the pharmaceutical industry has a sectoral agreement since 1993

• 28. November 2003: signature of the agreement on the establishment of the Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee of the Chemical Industry

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Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee of the Chemical

Industry

Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee of the Chemical

IndustryParticipants:employees side • Hungarian Trade Union Federation of Workers in the Chemical, Energy and

Allied Industries, • Sectoral Federation of Chemical Unions,• MOL Chemical Workers Union• Trade Union Federation of the Pharmaceutical Industry• Trade Union Federation of the Rubber Industry• Trade Union Federation of the Aluminium Industryand the employers side • Hungarian Chemical Federation• National Federation of Hungarian Pharmaceutical Producers• Hungarian Rubber Industry Federation• HUNGAMOSZ National Federation of Hungarian aluminium Industry

Producers

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Activities of the Chemical Sectoral Dialogue Committee

Activities of the Chemical Sectoral Dialogue Committee

• increase the acceptance and the acknowledgement of role of the chemical sector/branch in the national economy

• develop and mediate a positive image, • regulations on the sector and the world of

labour, • employment, wage and income policies, • training, education

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Activities of the Chemical sectoral Dialogue Committee

Activities of the Chemical sectoral Dialogue Committee

• labour safety, • join the work of sectoral committees in

the EU, • environment, • occupational safety and health,

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Activities of the Chemical sectoral Dialogue Committee

Activities of the Chemical sectoral Dialogue Committee

Studies• problems of temporary work. Possibilities of preventing misuse

– Based on the proposal of the social partners the Parliament increased the responsibility of agencies and the protection of temporary workers.

• Which way forward? The future of the Hungarian chemical industry. problems and possibilities of developing vocational and adult training in the chemical industry.

• Information to amend the system supporting job seekers and promoting employment in the Act on Employment

• Study on „Employment problems in the chemical industry and its sub-sectors and the labour market prospects”

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Activities of the Chemical sectoral Dialogue Committee

Activities of the Chemical sectoral Dialogue Committee

Studies:• system of social dialogue at the company level in the

sub-sectors of the Chemical sectoral social dialogue committee (sectoral collective agreements, wage agreements).

• collective agreements in the EU,• the impact of environmental investments on the

Hungarian chemical industry. • the Hungarian chemical industry and REACH.• the future of the Hungarian chemical industry and its

perspectives for the following 10 years.• health in the chemical industry• labour safety in the area of the Chemical sectoral

social dialogue committee

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Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee of the Gas Industry

Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee of the Gas Industry

Members:• employees side:

Trade Union Federation of the Gas Industry Hungarian Trade Union Federation of Workers in the Chemical, Energy and Allied Industries

• employers side: Hungarian Gas Industry Federation

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Sub-Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee of the Gas IndustrySub-Sectoral Social Dialogue

Committee of the Gas Industry

Main tasks• vocational training and junior development in the gas industry: • use of the vocational training fund, • support to secondary and tertiary vocational training institutes, • planning the training, personalised training plans• practical training, improve the quality of training, • introduction of distant learning (e-learning)• communication and negotiating skillsGas industry conference: Themes:• energy policy, problems of energy and the situation of the gas industry.• the impact of economic changes on occupational safety and health and

labour safetyStudies• Szilvia Borbély : The situation of the gas industry in Hungary after 2006

- March 2009,

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Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee of the Mining

Industry

Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee of the Mining

IndustryMembers:

• employees side :

Trade Union Federation of Mining and Energy WorkersMOL Miners’ Trade union

• employers side:

Hungarian Mining Federation

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Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee of the Mining Industry

Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee of the Mining Industry

Activities:• develop an energy policy concept decisive for the future• current issues of the energy industry • discussion of government and ministerial decrees on mining,Conferences:• possibilities of using renewable and non-renewable natural

resources for energy with special focus on the environment and the climate change (2006)

• current issues of the national energy policy, ( domestic mining, the structure of the industry, profit generating capabilities, employment) (2006)

• „Step by step” The role of social partners in the long-term European energy policy: international round table conference on labour contacts in the mining and the energy sectors in an enlarged Europe” (2009)

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Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee of the Mining Industry

Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee of the Mining Industry

Most important events 2009 :• the security of energy and row-material supply and the

promotion of the access to national mineral resources• mining industry aid system• health and safety• the impact of CO2 trading on the extraction industry• the impact of the economic crises on employment in the

extracting industry• vocational training, the regulation of qualification, wagesStudies• „The efficient development and use of natural resources and

minerals and the energy and environment management”

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ConclusionsConclusions

• legal frames and forms are given,• different solutions in the sectors,• strong social partners (mining and chemical industries),• joint action, strong lobbying,• joint studies,• observers in decision making bodies, • participation in the preparation of legislation, • sectoral agreement in the chemical industry (2003),• the role of the SSDC of the mining industry in updating

the mining act,

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General problemsGeneral problems

• Lack of information of employees• shrinking content of CA:

– the re-employment of redundant workers within the sector was taken out of the sectoral CA (baking industry, electric energy industry)

– new elements, e.g. tele-work, temporary work not included in the new CA

– measures promoting life-long-learning are missing– guarantees for equal opportunities for men and women are

missing– measures on reconciling family and working life are missing– labour safety rules against stress are missing– and the promotion of the employment of workers with decresed

working capabilities is missing

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Positive examples from the organisation area of VDSZ

Positive examples from the organisation area of VDSZ

• training of functionaries• special training for young people and women• act against discrimination at the workplaces• life-long-learning• discrimination at the workplaces • reconciling family and work• own website, trade union publications

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ChallengesChallenges

• the crisis

• factory closures

• outsourcing

• redundancies

• new employers

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Good examples of sectoral social dialogue in Hungary

Good examples of sectoral social dialogue in Hungary

• positive changes in the Labour Code• strong social partners, see mining industry, catering

industry• social partners can influence legislation; mining industry,

chemical industry, catering, electric energy industry• social partners prepare joint studies to resolve the special

problems of the sector; mining industry, chemical industry, catering

• equal opportunities, training, vocational training included in the CA; chemical industry

• sectoral unions are involved in the preparation of legislation

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Thank you for your attention