According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), technological advances, demographic changes, climate change, and the accelerated trends towards globalization are changing the labour world.

Considering the current context, the organization claimed that social dialogue, which involves governments, employers and workers organizations, should play a key role in labour governance.

We must ensure that countries develop balanced politics to address change, which shall be favourable for sustainable economic development as well as for social justice.

ILO published a report that states that each of the key vectors of change bring along very different challenges for economic and social councils.

The acceleration of globalization demands that social dialogue adapts to new decision making structures, where international companies are becoming more and more influential.

Demographic changes also demand making harder decisions, linked to the modernization of the welfare state’s institutions, and the creation of thousands of new and decent jobs for young workers. In addition, the report acknowledges that the potential of technological advances can only be seized through more effective regulations of the new labour modes and the reduction of skills gaps.

Managing climate change requires a broad consensus regarding the sustainable development strategy. The complexity of each challenge intensifies due to the need of addressing them together and simultaneously, an overwhelming task for any country, regardless their income level, or the stage of development they are going through.

Several national social dialogue institutions are now recovering from the effects of the global financial crisis. Nearly two thirds have acknowledged that this practice was tested during the past few years. Over half of them had gone through major reforms in terms of mission (adding environmental issues), composition (greater representation of young people or women), structure (development of specific task forces or committees), or functioning method.

Two third of economic and social councils, and similar institutions had developed a strategic plan to increase the role of social dialogue and political agreement (or expected to develop it). Besides, three quarters had an action plan that addressed one or more issues linked to the agenda of the future of work.

The role of economic and social councils used to be limited to providing advise (for instance, for policy making) or exchanging information, better practices or both. Only half of these institutions had an active role in negotiations.