Category: Colombia

Constuyendo Puentes – Building Bridges

New Report on workplace cooperation in Colombia. The Swedish Workplace Programme is concluding its first phase in Colombia. We recently launched a new study, in collaboration with Javeriana University, to capture key learnings and provide recommendations on best practices for social dialogue in Colombia. The study, ‘Building Bridges: Best Practices and Recommendations to Promote Social […]

Workplace cooperation model of Swedish companies a practical solution for Colombia?

In the framework of 150 years of relations between Sweden and Colombia, our Swedish Workplace Programme and Fundación Ideas para la Paz together with Embassy of Sweden in Colombia hosted a launch event for our joint study: Workplace cooperation – Finding practical solutions for the Colombian context. The study focuses on the impact of SWP’s social dialogue and cooperation […]

Workplace cooperation is fundamental for human rights and just transition

Strengthening and making the organizational culture inclusive is a challenge for companies. But did you know that social dialogue is a great tool to achieve this goal? When companies have a dialogue with their employees, unions, workers and the Government, policies and agreements are built that benefit the entire organization. Guías Colombia is an initiative in Colombia […]

SWP inspired sustainability initiatives in Colombia

Swedish Workplace Programme was invited to speak at the very first expobic in Bogota, one of the main sustainability events of 2022 organized by Ministerio de Industria, Comercio y Turismo. SWP contributed by sharing Swedish experiences to inspire sustainability initiatives in Colombia. Our Regional Coordinator Maria Angélica Castilla Oliver highlighted the importance of promoting a shift from […]

Partnership to promote sustainable values within the supply chain

Swedish Workplace Programme in Colombia is pleased to announce a new partnership with the Colombian company Dotacalle S.A.S. For SWP, this is a great milestone to our vision of promoting skills for workplace cooperation, sustainability, productivity and employees’ wellbeing within the business ecosystem in Colombia. This partnership is the fruit of SWP’s alliance with Securitas […]

Epiroc in Colombia partners with SWP

Swedish Workplace Programme and Epiroc collaborate in Colombia. “We are very pleased to continue expanding our work in Colombia with a partner such as Epiroc, a member of NIR (International Council of Swedish Industry), with a strong sustainability focus,” said Kaveh Hagi, Swedish Workplace Programme Director for Latin America, and Regional Programme Coordinator, Maria Angélica Castilla Oliver. […]

SWP in Colombia partners with SKF

We are pleased to announce that SWP in Colombia has signed an agreement with SKF. This is the third partnership started in Colombia. The SWP approach is versatile and replicable and the programme can therefore work with several companies at the same time. The strength in partnerships with SWP is, in addition to the facilitation […]

SWP in Colombia has launched its Sustainable Business Platform

The launch of the Sustainable Business Platform in Colombia was organised by the Swedish Workplace Programme. SWP facilitates a forum called Sustainable Business Platform (SBP) in collaboration with local actors in each Hub of the programme.  These platforms will generate peer to peer discussions and place sustainability on the local business agenda. The platform offers the […]

SWP’s roll out starts in Latin America

SWP enters its first collaboration in Latin America through a partnership with Securitas’s Colombia office in Bogota where we will jointly work on sustainable business. We are very happy to start our work in Colombia through this partnership. Securitas is a big employer in Colombia and we look forward to embarking on this sustainability journey, […]

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This executive summary presents the findings from the study “Workplace Cooperation: Finding Practical Solutions in the Colombian Context,” conducted by the Fundación Ideas para la Paz (FIP). The study evaluates the added value of the Swedish Workplace Programme (SWP) dialogue and cooperation model within the Colombian labor market.

Throughout 2022, FIP dedicated efforts to thoroughly understand the SWP model, including its concept, foundations, implementation process, and contributions to the labor market. In 2023, FIP documented the experiences of three companies—SKF Latin Trade, Securitas, and Epiroc—that implemented the SWP model in practice. The study also included face-to-face workshops to gather feedback from various stakeholders including civil society, businesses, government, academia, and international cooperation. The findings suggest that the SWP model has the potential to strengthen labor relations, contribute to decent work, and resolve workplace conflicts in Colombia.

The case studies highlight the importance of collaboration between employers and workers to promote decent work and sustainable development in Colombia. They demonstrate that social dialogue facilitates worker participation in labor decision-making, enhances their representativeness, and promotes cooperation between employers and employees, thus improving labor relations and contributing to the well-being of both employees and companies.

The SWP model is particularly noted for improving workplace relationships and commitment to jointly finding solutions to challenges faced by workers and the company. It empowers workers, enhances leadership, and helps integrate business policies into daily practices, reducing the initial disconnect between management objectives and the day-to-day realities of workers. The study also highlights the model’s capacity to manage conflicts constructively, transforming the perception of conflict as an opportunity for improvement. Structured dialogues deepen understanding of the underlying causes of conflicts, fostering empathy and facilitating effective resolution. This promotes a culture of collaboration and a democratic approach to decision-making, building trust.

Additionally, the model is recognized for enabling workers to make decisions, identify challenges, and propose solutions that impact their well-being, and bridging gender gaps in the workplace. Its inclusive approach adapts to the unique needs and characteristics of each company, promoting a stronger and more diverse organizational culture. It also drives good work performance and productivity by involving workers in problem identification and resolution, as well as in implementing improvements and efficiently identifying ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) risks for companies.

The document identifies the SWP model’s added value in empowering direct interaction among labor stakeholders in Colombia, overcoming historical or cultural reservations, and contributing to the development of stronger labor relations and improved workplace environments in the country.

Challenges and opportunities of the model are also discussed. The study points out the importance of addressing value chain risks, particularly in a global context where corporate clients demand decent work processes and due diligence. It emphasizes the need to integrate SMEs into this process and use anchor companies as drivers of social dialogue throughout the value chain. The role of the state in social dialogue and the importance of highlighting the benefits of the model for adoption across various business sectors are discussed.

The opportunities of the model include raising awareness of human rights in the workplace in line with the United Nations Guiding Principles (UNGP), to strengthen due diligence, manage risks, promote long-term sustainability, and improve organizational culture. The document also underscores the importance of involving workers in change processes, leveraging their insights for continuous improvement of processes, and fostering innovation opportunities. Lastly, it suggests replicating the model in value chains to address work environment risks and gender biases, involving suppliers and contractors, and integrating the model into corporate policies to strengthen existing programs and transform organizational culture towards resource efficiency and effective participation of employers and workers.