In October various workshops were held in the countries of project partners, aimed at transferring know-how, good practice and expertise as well as training/educating of social partners and stakeholders at company level.
The core of the project WIM presents a series of workshops to exchange experience and good practices in the countries participating in the project as target countries: Montenegro, Macedonia and Serbia. According to a preliminary study it was found that the state of social dialogue varies very much in the three project partners’ countries, which was further confirmed during the actual workshops. The content of the workshops was adjusted already in the baseline, namely to the findings of this study.
At the workshop in Skopje, which was held on 17.10.2013, the interest in improving social dialogue as well the interest in implementing new topics and approaches, of both the employers and trade unions, has been expressed. The matter of operation of employee representatives in decision-making process is partly regulated, but only at the level of functioning of European Works Councils. Employers have expressed interest in order to regulate the legal basis for the operation of Works Council also at the company level. This would make a business, which directly or indirectly affect employees, internalized.
At the workshop in Belgrade, held on 22.10.2013, there was very low number of participants from the companies; however the interest in social dialogue form trade unions was immense. This supports the fact that further awareness raising activities among Serbian employers is necessary. The state of social dialogue in Serbia significantly differs from that in Macedonia and Montenegro. Social dialogue in a broader sense is, from both employers and trade unions, still seen as a tool of opposition rather than a collaboration tool. In accordance with that there is no preparation for the enlargement range of social dialogue through the introduction of works councils in companies. It is surprising that the trade unions do not want works councils, because they understand them as a competition to trade union activities and not as an additional institute to pursue the interests of employees.
During the workshop in Montenegro, held on 29.10.2013, plenty of examples of national good practices were presented from representatives of Montenegrin companies. Both employer and employee representatives showed great interest in social dialogue, especially in related good practices. Montenegrin Employers expressed a desire to settle the legal basis for the functioning of works councils, as they see an additional opportunity to involve employees in decision-making processes and ensure internalization of the decisions taken by the employees.
The findings of the workshops carried out in the project partners suggest the need to continue the awareness raising activities and to find concrete solutions. In doing so, continuation of the activities are necessary, taking into account the different level of development of social dialogue and industrial relations in the countries of project partners.
Project WIM is co-funded by the European Union.