Governments worldwide are facing complex challenges like climate change, the digital revolution, and economic inequality. Yet, many are failing to use one of the most effective tools available: social dialogue.
According to a new report from the International Labor Organization (ILO), meaningful collaboration between governments, employers, and workers is critical to solving major global issues while ensuring fairness and inclusivity.
What Is social dialogue? Social dialogue involves governments, employers, and workers coming together to discuss, negotiate, and consult on economic and social policies.
When done effectively, this cooperation—called peak-level social dialogue (PLSD)—can help create better jobs, fair wages, and a just transition to green and digital economies.
The ILO report reveals that countries with strong social dialogue are better at addressing challenges like climate change and technological disruptions. However, the ability of social dialogue to create real change is weakened when governments prioritize short-term goals and exclude key voices.
Why is social dialogue Is being overlooked? The ILO found that many governments fail to follow through on agreements made through social dialogue.
Many governments also neglect to include underrepresented groups, such as women, young people, and informal workers, in decision-making processes.
Worse, violations of workers’ rights, including the freedom to organize and bargain collectively, have increased by 7% globally since 2015.
What are the risks of ignoring social dialogue? Without social dialogue, policies addressing major crises often lack public support and fail to meet the needs of all groups.
For example: Climate change policies need buy-in from workers and employers to ensure fair transitions to green jobs. Digital transformation requires consensus on how to manage automation and protect jobs. Economic inequality can be tackled more effectively through collective bargaining and wage negotiations.
The ILO report highlights examples of successful social dialogue:
In minimum wages, countries that involve workers and employers in setting wage policies see better results in reducing income inequality.
In green and digital transitions, social dialogue has helped countries like those in Europe develop policies for decarbonization and digitalization that are fair and widely supported.
To make real progress on global issues, according to the ILO report, governments must:
- Respect workers’ rights to organize and bargain collectively.
- Invest in social dialogue institutions by providing resources and training.
- Include underrepresented groups in decision-making.
- Regularly evaluate the effectiveness of social dialogue in shaping policies.
Why does social dialogue matter? Social dialogue is not just about better labor policies—it’s about creating solutions that work for everyone.
Governments that ignore this process risk missing the opportunity to address urgent global challenges like climate change in a fair and sustainable way. It’s time for leaders to embrace dialogue, not just as a tool for negotiation, but as a path to progress.
