<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Collective bargaining has come under renewed scrutiny, especially in Southern European countries, which rely predominantly on sectoral bargaining supported by administrative extensions of collective agreements. Following the global financial crisis, some of these countries have implemented substantial reforms in the context of adjustment programmes, seen by some as a ‘frontal assault’ on collective bargaining. This paper compares the recent top-down reforms in Portugal with the more gradual evolution of the system in the Netherlands. While the Dutch bargaining system shares many of the key features that characterise the Portuguese system, it has shown a much greater ability to adjust to new challenges through concerted social dialogue. This paper shows that the recent reforms in Portugal have brought the system more in line with Dutch practices, including in relation to the degree of flexibility in sectoral collective agreements at the worker and firm levels, the criteria for administrative extensions, and the application of retro- and ultra-activity. However, it remains to be seen to what extent the top-down approach taken in Portugal will change bargaining practices, and importantly, the quality of industrial relations.</p></abstract>

Collective bargaining has come under renewed scrutiny, especially in Southern European countries, which rely predominantly on sectoral bargaining supported by administrative extensions of collective agreements. Following the global financial crisis, some of these countries have implemented substantial reforms in the context of adjustment programmes, seen by some as a ‘frontal assault’ on collective bargaining. This paper compares the recent top-down reforms in Portugal with the more gradual evolution of the system in the Netherlands. While the Dutch bargaining system shares many of the key features that characterise the Portuguese system, it has shown a much greater ability to adjust to new challenges through concerted social dialogue. This paper shows that the recent reforms in Portugal have brought the system more in line with Dutch practices, including in relation to the degree of flexibility in sectoral collective agreements at the worker and firm levels, the criteria for administrative extensions, and the application of retro- and ultra-activity. However, it remains to be seen to what extent the top-down approach taken in Portugal will change bargaining practices, and importantly, the quality of industrial relations.

Frontal assault versus incremental change: A comparison of collective bargaining in Portugal and the Netherlands

IZA Journal of Labor Policy

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Public License.

Collective bargaining has come under renewed scrutiny, especially in Southern European countries, which rely predominantly on sectoral bargaining supported by...

Frontal assault versus incremental change: A comparison of collective bargaining in Portugal and the Netherlands

Published Online: Nov 13, 2019

Page range: -

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/izajolp-2019-0008

Keywords
collective bargaining, bargaining coverage/structure/coordination, trust, comparative economic systems

© 2019 Alexander Hijzen, Pedro S. Martins and Jante Parlevliet, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Public License.

Frontal assault versus incremental change: A comparison of collective bargaining in Portugal and the Netherlands

Published Online: Nov 13, 2019

Page range: -

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/izajolp-2019-0008

Keywordscollective bargaining, bargaining coverage/structure/coordination, trust, comparative economic systems

© 2019 Alexander Hijzen, Pedro S. Martins and Jante Parlevliet, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Public License.

Keywords
collective bargaining, bargaining coverage/structure/coordination, trust, comparative economic systems