English

The Hague, 25 March 2013

Industrial relations in transition

Open borders and economic dynamism are giving rise to growth in some sectors and decline in others. As a result, the structure of Dutch employment is changing. Dutch industrial relations are changing rapidly too. Against this backdrop, we need to reflect on the governance of employment and social security in the 21st century. How do we ensure that employers and employees can find the right balance between flexibility and security in this new environment? How do we ensure that disadvantaged groups can maintain their employability in a changing labour market? What can different parties - individual companies, social partners, educational institutions and local and central government - do to ensure that the Netherlands is ready to respond to these developments? Keynote speakers will address these questions in the plenary programme. The theme will be further explored in 15 parallel sessions focusing on: flexibility and security; labour mobility within Europe; generational equity; and business responses to the challenge of a shortage of skilled workers.

The SZW Conference is a unique annual platform for more than 650 decision makers and opinion leaders from the world of business and from social partners, public administration and social security, civil society, education and science.

With participation of the following keynote speakers: 
Jetta Klijnsma, Secretary of State for Social Affairs and Employment
Guy Ryder, Director-General, International Labour Organization
Colin Crouch, (Emeritus) Professor of Governance and Public Management, Warwick University
Wiebe Draijer, President, Economic and Social Council

Programme: CLICK HERE
Plenary Report: CLICK HERE

Report of the European Session 'Limiting the socials costs of the economic crisis': CLICK HERE

Guy Ryder, Director-general, International Labour Organisation	Colin Crouch, emeritus professor at the University of Warwick and external scientific member of the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies, Cologne