oa Globalisering en arbeidsverhoudingen

Globalisation and labour relations

What is the impact of globalization on the national industrial systems? To answer this question the article considers several views on globalization. It is argued that taking into account recent developments one could speak of a new globalization paradigm. Considering industrial relations in a broad sense it is concluded that outside contextual changes have limited the room for manoeuvre and the bargaining choices of the actors in the national systems. This implies not only downward competition on employment conditions and social protection, but also a loss of functions for actors and institutions. Such a process seems to be irreversible unless new instruments like voluntary agreements, direct and indirect employee share ownership will be put into practice. Otherwise decreasing social and political support for globalization could result into new forms of protectionism.