NIR Programme

Private Sector Contribution to Social Dialogue

The programme supports dialogue between labour market parties, alternative mechanisms for conflict resolution, mediation and workplace dialogue in post-conflict Colombia.

Sustainable growth in Colombia

Development of the labour market is key for the Colombian economy to grow sustainably, to break the current inequalities, to meet the challenges of tomorrow’s labour market and to overcome decades of conflict that has fragmented society. This transformation is dependent on a shift in culture and perception, not only in the relationship between employers and the trade unions, but also within these groups and organisations.

Approach

The programme promotes enhanced dialogue between actors at different levels of the labour market. This is achieved by building trust and providing access to platforms for collaborative action as well as tools for negotiation. Joint webinars within different sectors and activities such as a course in mediation are ongoing.

The programme is funded by Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and carried out in cooperation with local universities, the International Labour Organization (ILO), USAID, the Colombian Ministry of Labour and the Swedish National Mediation Office among others. Local and central unions and organisations, private and public companies and the National Association of Entrepreneurs of Colombia (ANDI) are other partners.

Supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals

The programme contributes to a socially inclusive and strengthened economic development and local implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

⦁ Sustainable economic growth
⦁ Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers
⦁ Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making
⦁ Strengthen relevant national institutions through international cooperation to build capacity at all levels
⦁ Efficient and targeted capacity building

Additional information

For more information, please contact Programme Director Karin Åker, telephone number + 46 8 783 82 69

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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.

The intervention of the SWP programme had a direct effect at the workplaces, where shop stewards listed several cases where they had managed to intervene and secure results in dialogue with management, avert crises or find solutions based on opportunities and the communication skills obtained during the SWP training. For the Amalgamated Metal Workers Unions in Kenya, the shop stewards pointed to how the training had enabled them to design their own strategies at the workplace in relation to supervisors and staff, and to achieve many concrete results.