The Dutch consultation economy: developments in social dialogue Véronique Timmerhuis

| Developments in social dialogue in NL| Véronique Timmerhuis The Netherlands consultation economy Holland: man made land Social dialogue finds its roots in a long tradition of consultation and cooperation

| Developments in social dialogue in NL| Véronique Timmerhuis Dutch consultation economy Consultation and dialogue at three levels:  Company level: work councils in every organisation  Sector/company level: +/- 500 collective labour agreements, covering 80% of all employees  National level: Social and Economic Council (SER) - Established in Advisory body to government and parliament - Three groups: employers, unions, independent experts - Broad agenda, but always with socio-economic angle - Divers ‘products’: advice reports, pacts, explorations, debates, consultations with Cabinet, self regulation etc. - SER can foster (political) stability by ‘creating common ground’

| Developments in social dialogue in NL| Véronique Timmerhuis Social dialogue in recent years During years of financial and economic crisis  Ups and downs …  … but social dialogue has continued in NL

| Developments in social dialogue in NL| Véronique Timmerhuis Undercurrents in society Developments next to economic crisis:  Less acceptance of authority and institutions: ‘we do it ourselves’, more bottom up than top down  Younger generations: very involved, but in a different way. Commitment per action, not in standing organisations  Increasing pluriformity: more viewpoints, groups etc. Poses challenges and questions to social dialogue:  Representation: how, membership?  Legitimacy: ‘who are they to speak for me? On which issues?’  In short: which groups and viewpoints to involve and how?

| Developments in social dialogue in NL| Véronique Timmerhuis New working methods social dialogue  Involvement of other relevant organisations:  Participation in committees  Organize ‘hearings’ of relevant groups  Dialogue sessions (not a meeting!)  Focused consultations relevant groups (ICT tools)  Collection of best practices & sharing on internet  Case studies on problems in practice (with committee)  Involvement also of broader public, citizens:  Large scale dialogue sessions  Open internet consultations (surveys),  Use of social media  Combination of on line & off line

| Developments in social dialogue in NL| Véronique Timmerhuis All in all: continuous reinvention All in all Reinvention/adaption of social dialogue to modern times  Continuous experiments, within formal structure  Get a ‘licence’ both of usual social partners + new groups  Take inputs serious, and do so visible  Need to find balance: usual social partners + new groups Role SER (as institution): -facilitating processes -‘convening power’ -‘neutral’ ground where all sorts of groups can meet and find common solutions

| Developments in social dialogue in NL| Véronique Timmerhuis Conclusion: conditions for success? Strong social partners, with an ability to deliver …. …wanting to work together, belief in the value of social dialogue … open to other groups … political will to listen and seek advice … … and social acceptance / legitimacy More process/culture than structure!  respect for each others’ position  long-term orientation (not just one-off deals)  create an environment of mutual trust  Invest in (personal) relations  stick to agreements, commitment to longer-term agreements with other parties  Hard work, not easy!