- Spain
Pablo Sanz de Miguel
University of Zaragoza, Sociology and Psychology, Faculty Member
- I have a PhD in Sociology from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and 12 years of experience in social research .... moreI have a PhD in Sociology from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and 12 years of experience in social research . Since 2023, I work as lecturer in the department of psychology and sociology of the University of Zaragoza. My areas of interest are European governance of employment, industrial relations, employment and working conditions, employment policies and vocational training. I have worked in different European comparative research projects in these areas, being involved in all stages, including initial research design, fieldwork, analysis and report writing.edit
This paper examines strategic enforcement approaches relying on co-enforcement and transgovernmentalist. It examines three cases in the construction industry in Austria, Asturias (Spain), and Poland, as well as three cases in maritime... more
This paper examines strategic enforcement approaches relying on co-enforcement and transgovernmentalist. It examines three cases in the construction industry in Austria, Asturias (Spain), and Poland, as well as three cases in maritime shipping in Finland, Spain, and Poland, focussing on Labour Inspection’s (LI)s motivations for engaging in co-enforcement and transnational cooperation. Data collection involved desk research, semi-structured interviews (39 construction and 14 in maritime), observation of inspections, and participant observation in EU seminars we organised together with regulatory actors (specific details are provided in the appendix). Findings show that LI’s selection of co-enforcement and transnational alliances are driven by the specific and highly contingent challenges each organisation faces. LI organisations are seeking to exploit synergies, but both the material reality and perception of these depends on diverse pre-existing infrastructures and organisation-specific assets.
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La Formación Profesional (FP) dual se ha implantado o se encuentra en proceso de implantación en un amplio espectro de países del sur y del este de Europa, con tradiciones y modalidades de FP ajenas a la tradición dual, originaria de... more
La Formación Profesional (FP) dual se ha implantado o se encuentra en proceso de implantación en un amplio espectro de países del sur y del este de Europa, con tradiciones y modalidades de FP ajenas a la tradición dual, originaria de ciertos países Nord-europeos. En el contexto español, el objetivo político europeo de la exportación norte-sur de la FP dual ha sido objeto de diversas investigaciones que han ilustrado las contradicciones y dificultades inherentes a dicho proceso. Sin embargo, la cuestión de la integración de los agentes sociales, pese a ser un aspecto capital de los modelos refe- rentes de la FP dual, no ha sido objeto específico de investigación. El presente artículo, basado en un proyecto de investigación europeo, pretende cubrir este vació en la investigación española de la FP dual. Su objetivo es analizar, en primer lugar, la participación de los agentes sociales en las principales instituciones estatales de gobernanza de la FP dual y, en segundo lugar, comparar la participación de los agentes sociales dentro de las estructuras de gobernanza existentes en tres Comunidades Autónomas (Andalucía, Cataluña y País Vasco). Para abordar este objetivo, el artículo se sustenta en el enfoque conceptual de la gobernanza sistémica y una aproximación metodológica cualitativa que combina una revisión documental con un trabajo de campo que recurre a entrevistas semiestructuradas y a un procedimiento de análisis fundamentado en la codificación. Los resultados revelan diferencias en el tipo de integración de los agentes sociales entre las tres CCAA estudiadas y en función de los distintos niveles de gobernanza.
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La irrupción de la economía de plataformas constituye el modelo más reciente de prácticas de externalización y flexibilización de la organización de la producción, apoyadas en el desarrollo de las tecnologías de la información y la... more
La irrupción de la economía de plataformas constituye el modelo más reciente de prácticas de externalización y flexibilización de la organización de la producción, apoyadas en el desarrollo de las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación. La difusión de este modelo de negocio ha ahondado en la expansión de diferentes figuras laborales precarias, siendo la figura del falso autónomo la más característica. El modelo de negocio basado en las plataformas digitales tiene también el efecto de limitar la capacidad sindical para representar y defender a los trabajadores, impidiendo o limitando, por ejemplo, el recurso a la negociación colectiva. El presente artículo compara las estrategias de revitalización sindical desplegadas en España y Portugal en el sector del reparto digital de comida a domicilio (rider) por sindicatos tradicionales, y asociaciones de repartidores y trabajadores precarios. El artículo muestra cómo en ambos países, los sindicatos han compatibilizado estrategias de organización y movilización con acciones encaminadas a influir en la esfera política y regulatoria. No obstante, se evidencia una mayor experimentación de prácticas en el caso español, así como un mayor impacto e influencia de sus estrategias en términos políticos. El artículo también revela importantes diferencias entre ambos países respecto a la relación entre los sindicatos tradicionales y las asociaciones de repartidores.
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Food-delivery digital labour platforms started to operate in Spain in 2016. As in other national contexts, these platforms have misclassi ed workers as independent contractors rather than employees, shifting responsibilities and risks... more
Food-delivery digital labour platforms started to operate in Spain in 2016. As in other national contexts, these platforms have misclassi ed workers as independent contractors rather than employees, shifting responsibilities and risks onto workers who have been forced to operate under marketized relationships lacking protection. This paper analyses trade unions practices and strategies targeted towards fooddelivery platform workers (riders) in Spain. The ndings are based on desk research and eldwork consisting of semi-structured interviews with representatives from di ferent trade unions and self-organized workers' associations. The article shows how trade unions' strategies resting on litigation and social dialogue ended up with the rst legislation in Europe which introduced a rebuttable presumption of employment in the eld of delivery platforms. At the same time, it shows the limitation of those strategies resting on institutional power resources due to the fragmentation of workers' interests and the newly platforms' strategies to circumvent labour law.
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To improve the EU OSH Barometer on social dialogue, EU-OSHA has commissioned the applied social research centre Notus to carry out the following tasks: 1. a brief literature review on social dialogue and OSH; 2. a review of existing... more
To improve the EU OSH Barometer on social dialogue, EU-OSHA has commissioned the applied social research centre Notus to carry out the following tasks:
1. a brief literature review on social dialogue and OSH;
2. a review of existing sources for building quantitative indicators on social dialogue and OSH;
3. identification and assessment of existing and potential quantitative indicators on social dialogue and OSH against quality criteria;
4. assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of building a composite quantitative indicator on social dialogue and OSH.
This paper summarises the outcomes of those tasks. First, the paper defines the main concepts, namely OSH and industrial relations, including collective bargaining and social dialogue. The second section provides a brief literature review on industrial relations and OSH. The third section presents a conceptual approach for defining the quality of industrial relations in the field of OSH. Building on this framework, the fourth section identifies and assesses existing and potential quantitative indicators aimed at measuring the quality of industrial relations in the field of OSH, and other indicators which may provide valuable contextual information. Finally, the last section assesses the aims and advantages and disadvantages of different analytical tools for working with those indicators, in particular building a dashboard and a composite indicator, and further exploring other statistical analysies.
1. a brief literature review on social dialogue and OSH;
2. a review of existing sources for building quantitative indicators on social dialogue and OSH;
3. identification and assessment of existing and potential quantitative indicators on social dialogue and OSH against quality criteria;
4. assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of building a composite quantitative indicator on social dialogue and OSH.
This paper summarises the outcomes of those tasks. First, the paper defines the main concepts, namely OSH and industrial relations, including collective bargaining and social dialogue. The second section provides a brief literature review on industrial relations and OSH. The third section presents a conceptual approach for defining the quality of industrial relations in the field of OSH. Building on this framework, the fourth section identifies and assesses existing and potential quantitative indicators aimed at measuring the quality of industrial relations in the field of OSH, and other indicators which may provide valuable contextual information. Finally, the last section assesses the aims and advantages and disadvantages of different analytical tools for working with those indicators, in particular building a dashboard and a composite indicator, and further exploring other statistical analysies.
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La expansión de estructuras empresariales basadas en plataformas digitales ha suscitado preocupación debido a sus estrategias de huida de la laboralidad. El caso de España es relevante por haber sido el primer país en la... more
La expansión de estructuras empresariales basadas en plataformas digitales ha suscitado preocupación debido a sus estrategias de huida de la laboralidad. El caso de España es relevante por haber sido el primer país en la Unión Europea que ha regulado la presunción de laboralidad de los repartidores, a través de la denominada Ley Rider. Este artículo contribuye a la literatura sobre la precariedad en la economía de plataformas explorando las principales manifestaciones del empleo irregular existentes en el sector del reparto digital español tras la aprobación de la Ley Rider, y sus efectos en las condiciones de trabajo. Metodológicamente, recurre a una aproximación cualitativa que combina el análisis documental con entrevistas a tres tipos de informantes. El artículo revela cómo las estrategias de adaptación de las empresas frente a la nueva regulación conforman una realidad marcada por la coexistencia de diversas manifestaciones del empleo irregular que tienden a acentuar la precariedad.
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This article aims to highlight the process of recommodification characterizing the new forms of work today, in particular gig economy jobs, and the possible solutions that can be suggested to guarantee adequate protection. After having... more
This article aims to highlight the process of recommodification characterizing the new forms of work today, in particular gig economy jobs, and the possible solutions that can be suggested to guarantee adequate protection. After having explained the importance of labour law to decommodify the new forms of work, in particular platform work, this article explains the different ways to legally classify them at the national level and the relevant contribution an EU definition of worker could bring to address the problem of recommodification. In doing this, the article also mentions some relevant aspects of the EU proposal for a directive in the field.
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This research report, which presents the main fin- dings of the INVOLVE project, explores the role played by trade unions and employer organisations in the governance of dual VET systems under models of IR where social partners play a... more
This research report, which presents the main fin- dings of the INVOLVE project, explores the role played by trade unions and employer organisations in the governance of dual VET systems under models of IR where social partners play a less institutionalised role in policymaking – namely, Spain, Greece and Portugal (‘State-centred’ model) and Poland (‘Mixed’ or ‘Transitional’ model).
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In 2022, the European Semester process was updated to take into account the launch of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) in February 2021. Over the past year, Member States have implemented national recovery and resilience plans... more
In 2022, the European Semester process was updated to take into account the launch of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) in February 2021. Over the past year, Member States have implemented national recovery and resilience plans (RRPs) in a context of huge geopolitical and economic upheaval triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This report analyses national social partners’ involvement in carrying out the reforms and investments included in the RRPs. The findings point to a degree of unevenness across Member States in terms of the quality of the social partners’ involvement in the preparation of the plans. Reasons cited include insufficient time allotted, inability to provide effective input and lack of genuine consultation and discussion. However, given their key involvement during the COVID-19 crisis – when they rallied together to manage the crisis and mitigate its negative effects – engaging the social partners in the necessary structural reforms is even more critical now due to rising energy and commodity prices, high levels of inflation and the risk of lower economic growth.
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This report analyses the role of social dialogue and collective bargaining in addressing the challenges created or exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic in the hospital sector. It also explores whether existing social dialogue and... more
This report analyses the role of social dialogue and collective bargaining in addressing the challenges created or exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic in the hospital sector. It also explores whether existing social dialogue and collective bargaining processes at national level were adapted in order to address these new challenges. The research included a literature review to contextualise the structural features of the hospital sector and an analysis of policy initiatives to manage the crisis implemented across the EU27 and Norway. The findings indicate that the level and nature of the social partners’ involvement in pandemic responses varied across Europe. Social dialogue and collective bargaining played a prominent role in some countries, while in others the social partners were less involved. Although no substantial changes were identified in social dialogue institutions and processes, the breadth of issues they deal with expanded beyond the traditional areas of employment and working conditions.
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La tesis doctoral titulada "La activacion en la Estrategia Europea de Empleo (EEE): traslacion a los discursos y las politicas de Espana y Reino Unido", trata de responder dos preguntas fundamentales: 1) ?Como se define la... more
La tesis doctoral titulada "La activacion en la Estrategia Europea de Empleo (EEE): traslacion a los discursos y las politicas de Espana y Reino Unido", trata de responder dos preguntas fundamentales: 1) ?Como se define la estrategia de activacion en las instituciones europeas en el periodo que va desde 1997 hasta el ano 2008?; 2) ?Como se entiende y concreta la activacion en dos paises miembros de la UE (Espana y Reino Unido) dotados de modelos de empleo claramente diferentes? Para responder estas preguntas, se lleva a cabo una investigacion de caracter cualitativo, centrada en el analisis del discurso de la activacion, y las politicas implementadas en el interior de ambos estados. El objetivo general perseguido es inferir el discurso de la activacion presente en la EEE y estudiar como ha sido aceptado, interpretado y aplicado en dos paises dispares como Espana y Reino Unido. Reconociendo que, bajo el concepto de activacion, es posible identificar varios modelos que apena...
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This report sets out to map and analyse legislation and collective bargaining on telework in the 27 Member States and Norway. It highlights the main cross-country differences and similarities regarding telework legislation and recent... more
This report sets out to map and analyse legislation and collective bargaining on telework in the 27 Member States and Norway. It highlights the main cross-country differences and similarities regarding telework legislation and recent changes to these regulations. It also examines the current situation regarding collective bargaining on telework. The analysis highlights many of the drawbacks and challenges of telework, focusing on provisions relating to access to telework, flexible working time, continuous availability/connectivity, isolation, occupational and health risk prevention and the costs incurred by the employee while working remotely. With COVID-19 having been an accelerator for regulating telework both in legislation and through collective bargaining, the report sheds light on how the future of telework could be regulated at national and EU level to improve working conditions and the well-being of workers.
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Teleworking has helped businesses evolve and survive the COVID-19 pandemic, but it has put workers at greater risk of musculoskeletal disorders and mental health problems. This report reviews the occupational safety and health issues... more
Teleworking has helped businesses evolve and survive the COVID-19 pandemic, but it has put workers at greater risk of musculoskeletal disorders and mental health problems. This report reviews the occupational safety and health issues associated with telework, and the measures and regulations in place to prevent and manage them. In-depth, candid interviews with workers and employers in three selected countries highlight the positive and negative impacts of teleworking during the pandemic. With telework likely to be more prevalent post-pandemic, the report concludes with recommendations to make its adoption successful while protecting workers’ safety and health.
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El artículo aborda la cuestión de la concertación y cooperación entre agentes sociales y estatales en la lucha contra el empleo irregular. El análisis se lleva a cabo desde un enfoque teórico que combina elementos del marco... more
El artículo aborda la cuestión de la concertación y cooperación entre agentes sociales y estatales en la lucha contra el empleo irregular. El análisis se lleva a cabo desde un enfoque teórico que combina elementos del marco neocorporatista y la perspectiva de la coproducción aplicada a las políticas de inspección de trabajo (co-inspección). El material empírico deriva de un estudio de caso centrado en una acción de cooperación entre los agentes sociales y la inspección de trabajo. Dicha acción se desarrolla en España, a nivel autonómico (Asturias), en un sector, la construcción, que presenta los rasgos propios del centro de trabajo fragmentado como resultado de prácticas ampliamente extendidas de flexibilización de la organización de la producción. El análisis confirma la relevancia y complementariedad de los enfoques teóricos contrastados, y contribuye a explicar los factores que determinan la configuración del consenso en el ámbito estudiado y la eficacia de este tipo acciones de...
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The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many companies to adopt teleworking. Post pandemic, as teleworking looks set to continue for many, measures to protect employee health and well-being are under scrutiny. This report reviews how telework... more
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many companies to adopt teleworking. Post pandemic, as teleworking looks set to continue for many, measures to protect employee health and well-being are under scrutiny.
This report reviews how telework was regulated at the EU and national levels pre-COVID-19, exploring legislation, employment and working conditions, occupational safety and health issues, and work-life balance. The role of collective bargaining and social dialogue is also discussed.
The report concludes by examining changes to legislation and initiatives adopted in response to the pandemic, with a view to informing effective approaches to regulating telework in the EU in the post-COVID-19 era.
This report reviews how telework was regulated at the EU and national levels pre-COVID-19, exploring legislation, employment and working conditions, occupational safety and health issues, and work-life balance. The role of collective bargaining and social dialogue is also discussed.
The report concludes by examining changes to legislation and initiatives adopted in response to the pandemic, with a view to informing effective approaches to regulating telework in the EU in the post-COVID-19 era.
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El artículo aborda la cuestión de la concertación y cooperación entre agentes sociales y estatales en la lucha contra el empleo irregular. El análisis se lleva a cabo desde un enfoque teórico que combina... more
El artículo aborda la cuestión de la concertación y cooperación entre agentes sociales y estatales en la lucha contra el empleo irregular. El análisis se lleva a cabo desde un enfoque teórico que combina elementos del marco neocorporatista y la perspectiva de la coproducción aplicada a las políticas de inspección de trabajo (co-inspección). El material empírico deriva de un estudio de caso centrado en una acción de cooperación entre los agentes sociales y la inspección de trabajo. Dicha acción se desarrolla en España, a nivel autonómico (Asturias), en un sector, la construcción, que presenta los rasgos propios del centro de trabajo fragmentado como resultado de prácticas ampliamente extendidas de flexibilización de la organización de la producción. El análisis confirma la relevancia y complementariedad de los enfoques teóricos contrastados, y contribuye a explicar los factores que determinan la configuración del consenso en el ámbito estudiado y la eficacia de este tipo acciones de cooperación para combatir el empleo irregular
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Industrial democracy is a dimension of industrial relations which has been largely studied. However, the international comparison of the different features and outcomes of industrial democracy has attracted much less attention. The... more
Industrial democracy is a dimension of industrial relations which has
been largely studied. However, the international comparison of the
different features and outcomes of industrial democracy has
attracted much less attention. The article addresses this gap by
developing three tools: a dashboard of indicators, a composite indicator aiming to measure performance, and a typology addressed to
better understanding varieties of national industrial relations system.
Whilst industrial democracy performance is defined in a normative
way, the typology includes also other aspects related to industrial
relations institutions, processes and actors. Both normative and nonnormative indicators are included in the dashboard. The three tools
allow for cross-time analysis and are seen as complementary for the
comparative analysis of industrial democracy in Europe
been largely studied. However, the international comparison of the
different features and outcomes of industrial democracy has
attracted much less attention. The article addresses this gap by
developing three tools: a dashboard of indicators, a composite indicator aiming to measure performance, and a typology addressed to
better understanding varieties of national industrial relations system.
Whilst industrial democracy performance is defined in a normative
way, the typology includes also other aspects related to industrial
relations institutions, processes and actors. Both normative and nonnormative indicators are included in the dashboard. The three tools
allow for cross-time analysis and are seen as complementary for the
comparative analysis of industrial democracy in Europe
The European Semester appears in 2010, as a key institutional tool with a view to reinforce the governance and coordination of the European employment policy. Among the different debates that the emergence of this process has risen, the... more
The European Semester appears in 2010, as a key institutional tool with
a view to reinforce the governance and coordination of the European
employment policy. Among the different debates that the emergence of
this process has risen, the article addresses, through an analysis of the
Spanish case in the period 2011-2017, the discussion about the supposed
growing importance of its social content. The so-called “socialization” of
the European Semester is analysed from an input perspective,
researching the political recommendation and guidelines, which result
form the process and its influence in the Spanish employment policies;
and from an analytical approach focused on its governance, through the
study of the social dialogue processes implementing the SE. Empirically,
the article draws on a content analysis of main documents prepared by
European institutions (Employment guidelines, Country Specific
Recommendations) and the Spanish Government (National Reform
Programmes and Legislation) and open-ended questionnaires, answered
by the government and most representative social partners.
a view to reinforce the governance and coordination of the European
employment policy. Among the different debates that the emergence of
this process has risen, the article addresses, through an analysis of the
Spanish case in the period 2011-2017, the discussion about the supposed
growing importance of its social content. The so-called “socialization” of
the European Semester is analysed from an input perspective,
researching the political recommendation and guidelines, which result
form the process and its influence in the Spanish employment policies;
and from an analytical approach focused on its governance, through the
study of the social dialogue processes implementing the SE. Empirically,
the article draws on a content analysis of main documents prepared by
European institutions (Employment guidelines, Country Specific
Recommendations) and the Spanish Government (National Reform
Programmes and Legislation) and open-ended questionnaires, answered
by the government and most representative social partners.
This report analyses trade union strategies to address trade union members’ and workers’ growing likelihood to vote for Populism Radical Right (PRR) parties. The study focuses on four countries where PRR parties have different political... more
This report analyses trade union strategies to address trade union members’ and workers’ growing
likelihood to vote for Populism Radical Right (PRR) parties. The study focuses on four countries
where PRR parties have different political stances and have achieved different levels of political
support, namely Germany, Denmark, Spain and Hungary. These countries also have different
patterns in their industrial relations and highlight distinctive features of national trade union
movement. The report has been compiled based on desk research and individual national reports
from national experts, involving semi-structured interviews with trade unions. The study shows
that trade unions’ discourses and views on PRR parties differ in the countries studied. Overall,
trade unions tend to be critical with PRR parties’ agenda. However, in some countries, notably
Denmark, trade unions’ appeal to political neutrality means that critics are only focused on certain
policy proposals or areas such as migration policies, and explicit critics toward PRR parties are
not formulated. The study also identifies several trade unions’ direct and indirect actions against
PRR parties, particularly in Germany, where the trade union movement has developed a
comprehensive set of actions to counteract the rise of PRR parties and extremist movements.
likelihood to vote for Populism Radical Right (PRR) parties. The study focuses on four countries
where PRR parties have different political stances and have achieved different levels of political
support, namely Germany, Denmark, Spain and Hungary. These countries also have different
patterns in their industrial relations and highlight distinctive features of national trade union
movement. The report has been compiled based on desk research and individual national reports
from national experts, involving semi-structured interviews with trade unions. The study shows
that trade unions’ discourses and views on PRR parties differ in the countries studied. Overall,
trade unions tend to be critical with PRR parties’ agenda. However, in some countries, notably
Denmark, trade unions’ appeal to political neutrality means that critics are only focused on certain
policy proposals or areas such as migration policies, and explicit critics toward PRR parties are
not formulated. The study also identifies several trade unions’ direct and indirect actions against
PRR parties, particularly in Germany, where the trade union movement has developed a
comprehensive set of actions to counteract the rise of PRR parties and extremist movements.
Regulated at European level, the posting of workers is a practice used between companies located in different countries A worker is posted when their original employer sends them to work, for a temporary period, in another company.... more
Regulated at European level, the posting of workers is a practice used between companies located in different countries A worker is posted when their original employer sends them to work, for a temporary period, in another company. Posting has been defined as a specific form of labour mobility within the EU. Although posting only affects around 1% of the workforce in the EU, it has generated extensive debate due to fraudulent practices hampering the enforcement of, and compliance with, existing regulations. Changes in the location of work, raise various questions – namely, who is the employer and which national regulations apply. The use of temporary agencies, subcontracting and posting of self-employed workers gives rise to additional problems.
This report covers the emergence, developments and rationales behind fraudulent forms of employment and contracting work in construction sector. The research has been developed in the framework of the Eurofound project “Inequalities in... more
This report covers the emergence, developments and rationales behind fraudulent forms of employment and contracting work in construction sector. The research has been developed in the framework of the Eurofound project “Inequalities in working conditions: exploring fraudulent forms of contracting work and self-employment in the European Union”. (Eurofound, 2016). The analysis is based on country-specific information from Finland, France, Poland and Spain as well as from the EU-level sources
There is evidence of skills shortages in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) fields in spite of high unemployment rates in many Member States. This document, prepared by Policy Department A at the request of the Committee... more
There is evidence of skills shortages in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) fields in spite of high unemployment rates in many Member States. This document, prepared by Policy Department A at the request of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, intends to provide an up-to-date overview of the labour market situation in STEM occupations and to analyse European and national approaches to encourage STEM uptake in relation to these labour market needs. The aim is to identify practices which help to increase the supply of STEM skilled labour.
This report explores the involvement of peak social partners in the European Semester at EU and national level during the period 2011 to 2014. While their role in the European Semester is not set out in the European economic governance... more
This report explores the involvement of peak social partners in the European Semester at EU and national level during the period 2011 to 2014. While their role in the European Semester is not set out in the European economic governance provisions (the so-called ‘Six-Pack’), the European institutional bodies view the two sides of industry as being key to the development of the Semester, and have called for their closer involvement. This report assesses the degree to which the social partners are involved in the different stages of the European Semester procedure on matters regarding employment and social policy issues and how their involvement could be enhanced. At the same time, it examines the role played by the European Commission and the national governments in communicating the country-specific recommendations. The study also looks at the views of the social partners themselves. The report was compiled on the basis of desk research and individual national reports submitted by Eurofound’s network of European correspondents covering all 28 EU Member States.
Previous Eurofound research has identified four key dimensions of industrial relations: industrial democracy, industrial competitiveness, social justice, and quality of work and employment. This report seeks to build a set of indicators... more
Previous Eurofound research has identified four key dimensions of industrial relations: industrial democracy, industrial competitiveness, social justice, and quality of work and employment. This report seeks to build a set of indicators to measure country performance in industrial relations in terms of these four dimensions and to develop a typology of industrial relations systems, enabling a cross-country analysis of trends. The report focuses particularly on industrial democracy, seen in this context as the core dimension of industrial relations and the most desirable model of work and employment governance.
The European Employment Strategy (EES) illustrates the most ambitious attempt to regulate and coordinate employment policies. However, some doubts arise about its capacity to favour convergence in the field of employment due to the... more
The European Employment Strategy (EES) illustrates the most ambitious attempt to regulate and coordinate employment policies. However, some doubts arise about its capacity to favour convergence in the field of employment due to the regulatory nature of the process, based on the so-called soft regulation. This article aims to contribute to the debate of whether the EES can favour the convergence of employment policies by focusing on the effects of the policy discourse. It analyses the EU discourse on activation developed in the European Employment Strategy (EES) from 1997 to 2010 and its influence in Spain and the United Kingdom by means of a policy frame approach. The conclusions show that we are observing a process of relative ideological convergence of the activation models due to the influence of the EES discourse. However, divergences are still observed at the level of the instruments and methods of activation.
Spain is currently developing a dual Vocational Education Training (VET), which is represented as an attractive political option to improve the transition of young people into the employment system and adapt their competences to the... more
Spain is currently developing a dual Vocational Education Training (VET), which is represented as an attractive political option to improve the transition of young people into the employment system and adapt their competences to the employers’ demands. In this context, attention should be drawn to the issue of its governance structures. Governance structures ensure the efficiency and success of dual VET systems that require the coordination of activities of collective actors and the closer involvement of some agents such as companies. This article provides some analytical dimensions to understand and classify dual VET systems. Then it analyses through these dimensions the emergent dual VET system of Spain, which is compared with the cases of Denmark and Germany. It is, however, an asymmetric comparison, because Denmark and Germany are used as contrasting cases with the Spanish case, which is analysed more extensively through a normative analysis and a filed work based on focus groups. The article shows that there is room for improvement for the emerging Spanish dual vocational training system. It would require a more coherent and consistent legal framework, a substantial improvement in terms of coordination of the different administrations and actors involved, a reinforced role of employees’ representatives and more precise definition of goals to be attained.
Eurofound’s 2016 report Mapping key dimensions of industrial relations identified four key dimensions of industrial relations: industrial democracy, industrial competitiveness, social justice, and quality of work and employment. This... more
Eurofound’s 2016 report Mapping key dimensions of industrial relations identified four key dimensions of industrial relations: industrial democracy, industrial competitiveness, social justice, and quality of work and employment. This report builds upon that earlier study, developing a dashboard of 45 indicators to assess how and to what extent the conceptual framework of these key dimensions can be applied at national level. The indicators were tested across the Member States by Eurofound’s Network of European Correspondents and show reasonable accuracy when used to map the predominant features and trends of the national industrial relations systems. The study confirms that a dashboard of indicators that can accurately measure and summarise the complex reality of industrial relations across the EU is a valuable tool for comparative research and a useful instrument for supporting policymakers, social partners and stakeholders. The report sets out a range of options for further developing this conceptual approach. An executive summary is available - see Related content.
The article aims to contribute to the debate on irregular employment in Spain, by addressing bogus self-employment and bogus internships forms. Drawing from an institutional approach, it analyses the influence that three fields have on... more
The article aims to contribute to the debate on irregular employment in Spain, by addressing bogus self-employment and bogus internships forms. Drawing from an institutional approach, it analyses the influence that three fields have on these labour frauds, derived from managerial approaches aiming to obtain competitive advantageous: two state fields associated to the regulation and the enforcement of the regulation, articulated through the Labour and Social Security Inspectorate (ITSS); and the industrial relations field which, in Spain, strongly depends on the state and the legislation. The article confirms the relevance of the three institutional fields studied, the interaction and interrelation of which contributes to understand the existence of both fraudulent practices. At the same time, elements and initiatives are identified that suggest that, within the existing institutional framework, there is room to contribute to reduce its diffusion.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
This book analyses how platform workers are represented in Europe. Drawing on in-depth research in Germany, Hungary, Portugal and Spain, it reveals how platform workers are actually organising and being represented in contrasting national... more
This book analyses how platform workers are represented in Europe. Drawing on in-depth research in Germany, Hungary, Portugal and Spain, it reveals how platform workers are actually organising and being
represented in contrasting national settings in Europe.
represented in contrasting national settings in Europe.
Research Interests:
This research report has been produced in the context of a project entitled ‘The definition of worker in the platform economy’ (CES/FSA/09/2020), which was commissioned by the workers’ group of the European Economic and Social Committee.... more
This research report has been produced in the context of a project entitled ‘The definition of worker in the platform economy’ (CES/FSA/09/2020), which was commissioned by the workers’ group of the European Economic and Social Committee. The report aims to contribute to the debates on platform workers’ risks and regulatory solutions. The report explores the defining features of platform work in terms of prevalence, socio-demographic characteristics, algorithmic management and working conditions; substantiated by a comparison of four national responses to the emergence of platform work (Finland, Germany, Hungary and Spain). The report concludes by proposing a legal response aiming to improve labour rights and social protections for platform workers and other non-standard workers, based on the development of an EU definition of worker.