Los interlocutores sociales son grupos que cooperan en relaciones laborales para alcanzar un objetivo común, generalmente en beneficio de todos los grupos involucrados. Algunos ejemplos de interlocutores sociales son los empleadores, los empleados, los sindicatos, los grupos empresariales y los gobiernos.
Origen
El concepto de interlocutores sociales surgió en Europa en parte a raíz del desorden posterior a la Revolución Industrial . El artículo 152 del Tratado de Funcionamiento de la Unión Europea (TFUE) establece:
La Unión reconoce y promueve el papel de los interlocutores sociales a su nivel, teniendo en cuenta la diversidad de los sistemas nacionales. Facilitará el diálogo entre los interlocutores sociales, respetando su autonomía. La Cumbre Social Tripartita para el Crecimiento y el Empleo contribuirá al diálogo social. [ 1 ]
Este artículo forma parte del Derecho Primario de la Unión Europea (UE).
Papel de los interlocutores sociales
Los interlocutores sociales desempeñan un papel fundamental a la hora de llegar a los trabajadores y propietarios de empresas, en particular a los de las pequeñas y medianas empresas (PYME) y la economía informal , y, en general, de aumentar la representación de sus miembros para garantizar beneficios más profundos y amplios de la asociación, la representación y el liderazgo, incluso en el ámbito de la promoción de políticas públicas, su formulación y su aplicación.
Proceso
Con la continua globalización, las empresas deben soportar una mayor presión debido a la competencia entre países. Al mismo tiempo, las nuevas tecnologías están reemplazando a las industrias tradicionales, lo que provoca desempleo estructural . Las relaciones entre empleados y empleadores se ven afectadas a medida que diversas formas de empleo atípico se generalizan en el mercado laboral. En estas circunstancias, la relación entre trabajo y empleador tiene un potencial creciente para adquirir características de asociación. Esta nueva idea de interlocutores sociales se ha materializado a través de la Organización Internacional del Trabajo (OIT) y los sistemas europeos de concertación social. En Europa, las concertaciones sociales contribuyeron a la reconstrucción de la economía tras los daños causados por la Segunda Guerra Mundial .
Existe una conexión inextricable entre los interlocutores sociales, el diálogo social y la paz, pero ¿qué factores contribuyen al éxito del diálogo social?
- Powerful and independent organizations of labor and capital (social relation / factor of production)
- Both employee and employer have the willingness to talk on equal footing
- Respecting freedom of association and collective bargaining rights
- Appropriate institutional support
Influence
The Treaty of Lisbon (Article 152 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU) recognises the role of the social partners in labor relations and European social dialog. They represent their members during consultations with the commission and the negotiation of collective agreements. They also sit with the European Economic and Social Committee, alongside other organisations representing civil society. The social partners played a key role in implementing the objectives of the Lisbon Strategy for growth and jobs by launching projects and initiatives at the European and national levels.
European social partners have had a considerable influence on the preparation of the following Commission proposals:
- Revamping the rules to protect EU workers from harmful electromagnetic fields;
- The new framework Directive on the establishment of the European Works Councils;
- The Directive implementing the revised Framework Agreement on parental leave;
- The recommendation on a smoke-free environment
Examples
Poland
The role of governments and social partners in keeping older workers in the labor market. In view of Poland's ranking as lowest in the EU professional activity indicators for people aged 45+, the government and social partners see the need for actions boosting occupational development of this group. Poland has a universal plan called ‘Generations’ Solidarity: Actions for Increasing Occupational Activity of People Aged 50+’, developed within the social dialog institutions. So far it has been implemented through legislation, most importantly with regard to the pension system, and specifically raising and equalising the statutory retirement age for men and women and restricting access to early retirement schemes. Very few actions revolve around improving the quality of work of older workers.
Korea
Labor Foundation, which was founded in April 2007 under the tripartite consensus on the importance of social partners' autonomous contribution to a more stable and advanced labor relations, is the one and only public institution that is engaged in the programs and activities to promote the labor relations in Korea. The programs and activities of the Foundation, which are all designed to help and guide social partners to work together with responsibility and for their common benefits, include: financial assistance for social partnership education and joint programs; workplace innovation consulting to increase competitiveness at workplace; employment generation, by creating selective worktime jobs, improving the long work practice and promoting flexible work schemes; outplacement services for retirees in their 40s or older; counseling and education to prevent and remedy unreasonable discrimination in employment; and international exchanges in the field of labor relations.
See also
External links
- Tripartite Social Summit - 22 October 2025 – Speeches of the trade union delegation
- http://www.eqavet.eu/qa/gns/glossary/s/social-partners.aspx
- http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/areas/industrialrelations/dictionary/definitions/europeansocialpartners.htm
- http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---europe/---ro-geneva/---ilo-brussels/documents/presentation/wcms_180714.pdf
- https://web.archive.org/web/20140606223116/http://www.tpwu.org.tw/periodical/391/1202.htm
- http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/glossary/social_partners_en.htm
- http://www.ab.gov.tr/index.php?l=2
- http://www.ab.gov.tr/files/ardb/evt/1_avrupa_birligi/1_9_politikalar/1_9_7_sosyal_politika/consulting_european_social_partners.pdf
- http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/eiro/studies/tn1210012s/pl1210019q.htm
- http://inosa.or.kr/eng/front/KLF/whoweare.htm
- http://china.org.cn/world/Off_the_Wire/2014-04/22/content_32163654.htm
References
- ↑"Article 152". eur-lex.europa.eu. Retrieved 2025-11-22.
- Labor relations