Negotiating collective agreements on employment and competitiveness

This report describes and analyses agreements between the social partners on employment and competitiveness in 11 Member States of the European Union. It focuses on innovative collective agreements concluded at both sectoral and company levels which are used by the parties involved (sometimes with state backing) to ensure that aspects of employment and competitiveness play a central role in any settlement reached. These agreements have become known as PECs: pacts for employment and competitiveness. In terms of their content, they cover a wide range of mostly interlinked measures, which include more flexible wage structures, the reduction of working time and changes in work organisation, as well as measures associated with continuing vocational training.