Gives an overview on the practice of consultation and conditions of reflecting competitiveness and employment in bargaining processes at national level. Provides, at local level, examples from a bank and three firms in the computer, electronics and metal industries.

This article shows why qualifications built on occupational capacity rather than on trade-based skills have more potential to accommodate the aims of the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and changes in the labour process, going together with the development of occupational labour markets....