1. Social Pacts – An Account of Tripartism in the Indian Subcontinent
Iftikhar Ahmad
Labour law specialist
WageIndicator Foundation
Presented by Dirk Dragstra

2. TRIPARTISM: A LOOSE DEFINITION
Consultation and negotiation
Economic and social policies
Representatives of government, labour unions and employers’ associations

3. LEGISLATIVE BASIS Institutionalization and continuity of practices
Scope of policy consultations and agreements
Strength and autonomy of labour (organizations)

4. I. Institutionalization and continuity of practices
INDIA
Indian Tripartite Labour Conference (ILC)
Standing Labour Committee (SLC)
Tripartite Industrial Committees (TIC)
PAKISTAN
Tripartite Labour Conference (TLC)

5. II. Scope of policy consultations and agreements
Promote uniformity in labour legislation
Discuss matters of national importance between social partners
Develop uniform procedure for dispute settlement

6. III. Strength and autonomy of labour (organizations)
Non-agricultural labour:
INDIA
90-93% informal sector
PAKISTAN
73% informal sector
UNION DENSITY < 7%

7. SOCIAL PACT EMERGENCE - INDIA
No tripartite consultations on the national level
Ministry of Labour did not play a role
Tripartite Industrial Committees endorsed government policies

8. SOCIAL PACT EMERGENCE - PAKISTAN
APSEWAC sprang up in 1991
115 public sector enterprises to be privatized
Pact signed with government

9. COMPARISON INDIA - PAKISTAN
Ministry of Labour not involved
No overall social pact signed
PAKISTAN
Ministry of Labour involved
Informal agreement acquired formal status
Government involvement in implementation

10. CONCLUSION Tripartite institutions were largely neglected
Missed opportunity
What to do?
Facilitation by providing funding, staff, etc.
Fundamental objections?

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