1. Debate on Labor Relations in Wallonia AMCHAM Belgium HEC School of Management of ULg. – 2nd October “Overview of Labor Relations in Belgium”
Prof. Dr. Frédéric SCHOENAERS
Institut des Sciences Humaines et Sociales
University of Liège

2. Introduction Quick overview of the Belgian labor relations context
Institutional specific aspects
Some numbers
Quick overview of some sociological issues/enigmas/stakes/questions regarding labor relations in Belgium

3. Context : Belgium as a pillarized society
Belgium as a “consociational” democracy
Pillarized society : confessional pillar (Christian) versus non confessional or “lay” pillar (socialist / liberal)  schools, hospitals, trade unions, mutuality's, etc.
Decentralized (weak?) State : federal level, regional level, community level (+ Province and municipal level)
Elites (from the “pillars”) are responsible to build “consensus” (participation in the decision making processes of diverse entities such as Social Security, school councils, hospital councils, etc.)

4. Context : interesting aspects in terms of « political » sociology
For what the labor relation field concerns:
Collective bargaining at three levels: National (intersectorial collective agreement every two years), sectorial level (sectoral applied agreement), company level (three potential instances: Committee for Prevention and Protection at the Workplace if at least 50 workers; Trade Union Delegation representing unionized workers; the Works Council compulsory from 100 workers)
Tripartite policy concertation (State – Trade Unions – Employer Organizations) into two main entities:
Central Economic Council
National Labor Council
global trends defined at a “centralized” level! (other levels = refining global decisions)

5. Context: some numbers…
Trade unions density: 52%
Employer organization density : 76%
Collective bargaining coverage: 96% (extension principle!)
Number of working days lost due to strikes:
2013: days (50% in industry, 75% by males, 66% blue collar)
2012: days
wages increase margin frozen by government!

6. Context: some numbers…
Three main trade unions:
Confederation of Christian Trade Unions: 1,7 million members
Belgian General Fedration of Labor: 1,3 million members
Federation of Liberal Trade Unions of Belgium: membres
 Social elections every four years (+/- 70% participation)

7. Sociological issues/trends/questioning
Managing the human factor
Work as a secondary element for identity construction (work : from central value to means…)
Work = middle:
Money (to do something else… no investment/motivation for work content)
High expectation over work: personal development, autonomy, responsibilities, etc.
 Paradox
“Y generation” or “Y culture”?

8. Sociological issues/trends/questioning
A society without workers?
Finance economy (neo-liberalism)
Globalization + digitalization, automation, robotization
Competitiveness and productivity gains
Heavy downcising trend
 No consumers more? A need for new work distribution?

9. Sociological issues/trends/questioning
Justice/law:
Important element for labor relation : regulation aspect (Europeanization!)
strike right versus working right (emblematic decisions!)
Obligation of (psychosocial-)risk management/prevention
Example : burn out in Belgian law since a few weeks

10. Sociological issues/trends/questioning
Individualizing society:
Global trend in our western societies: decline of
Integrative institutions (family, religion, work, school)
TV, PC, etc. =
Example: Indivudialized HRM
No more class conflict: Marxism is dead?
“Service” unionism : a good way to recruit members… (not more interested in global class conflict)
Defense of “category” interests
 Less global pressure but increased local pressure?