Globalization and Industrial Relations in Portugal
Globalization and Industrial Relations in Portugal
The deterritorialisation of economic processes, which followed the progress of new technologies of production and information, created new forms of work based on the logic of liberalization and flexibility and changed deeply the system of labour relations. Base on the deep changes produced by the new conjuncture of global economy in the field of labour, we intend to investigate the impact of these transformations on the system of labour relations in Portugal, which represent distinct repercussions in the different sectors of economic activity. If, on the one hand, the effects of the liberalization of global economic markets over the Portuguese society have been in the direction of dislocation of industries to countries with lower costs of production, which implies the increase of unemployment in some economic sectors, namely textile, manufacture of footwear and manufacture of motor vehicles. On the other hand, the development of transports and telecommunications has been creating new jobs in the service area, particularly in the area of the new technologies and the tourist industries and led to the technological and organizational change of the bank sector. These changes brought some disturbances in the organization and the conditions of work, generating flexible and unstable jobs which segmented and individualized labour relations and weakened the ties of solidarity between workers. The growth of the part-time and temporary jobs, the precarious work contracts and the decrease of social protection of workers are some of the effects of the new socio-economic model, emerging with globalization. Nevertheless, in Portugal, these transformations had differentiated impacts on the job levels at the economic activities. In the case of industry, a significant lost in the volume of jobs was verified, which over the last seven years led to a decrease of 105.000 jobs. Regarding the service sector over the same period, an accentuated increase was registered, with approximately 417.000 new jobs. Even though, it's important to note that it is in this sector where most of the situations of precarious work occur. These changes represent some new challenges to the Portuguese trade unionism, which following the tendency of the world trade unions, suffered a decrease in the number of members. Concerning the employers, they have been facing difficulties of adaptation to the new realities too, particularly the so called traditional Patronate. The study proposes to analyse the trade union's answers, the attitudes of the employers, the behaviour and the expectations of workers in the context of these mutations. The method of sociological interventions, conceived by Alain Touraine in the sphere of the Sociology of Action will be applied, with the objective to confront the social actors and reflect together over these questions.
Estatuto:
Proponent entity
Financed:
Yes
Keywords:
Globalization, Industrial Relations, Employment
The deterritorialisation of economic processes, which followed the progress of new technologies of production and information, created new forms of work based on the logic of liberalization and flexibility and changed deeply the system of labour relations. Base on the deep changes produced by the new conjuncture of global economy in the field of labour, we intend to investigate the impact of these transformations on the system of labour relations in Portugal, which represent distinct repercussions in the different sectors of economic activity. If, on the one hand, the effects of the liberalization of global economic markets over the Portuguese society have been in the direction of dislocation of industries to countries with lower costs of production, which implies the increase of unemployment in some economic sectors, namely textile, manufacture of footwear and manufacture of motor vehicles. On the other hand, the development of transports and telecommunications has been creating new jobs in the service area, particularly in the area of the new technologies and the tourist industries and led to the technological and organizational change of the bank sector. These changes brought some disturbances in the organization and the conditions of work, generating flexible and unstable jobs which segmented and individualized labour relations and weakened the ties of solidarity between workers. The growth of the part-time and temporary jobs, the precarious work contracts and the decrease of social protection of workers are some of the effects of the new socio-economic model, emerging with globalization. Nevertheless, in Portugal, these transformations had differentiated impacts on the job levels at the economic activities. In the case of industry, a significant lost in the volume of jobs was verified, which over the last seven years led to a decrease of 105.000 jobs. Regarding the service sector over the same period, an accentuated increase was registered, with approximately 417.000 new jobs. Even though, it's important to note that it is in this sector where most of the situations of precarious work occur. These changes represent some new challenges to the Portuguese trade unionism, which following the tendency of the world trade unions, suffered a decrease in the number of members. Concerning the employers, they have been facing difficulties of adaptation to the new realities too, particularly the so called traditional Patronate. The study proposes to analyse the trade union's answers, the attitudes of the employers, the behaviour and the expectations of workers in the context of these mutations. The method of sociological interventions, conceived by Alain Touraine in the sphere of the Sociology of Action will be applied, with the objective to confront the social actors and reflect together over these questions.
Objectivos:
The project is based on two fundamental objectives. Firstly, we intend to analyse the socio-economic consequences of the dislocation of multinationals companies to the Portuguese labour relations, as well as the creation of jobs in the service sector, due to the development of new technologies of information and production. Secondly, we propose to study the development and the impact of the new flexible forms of work on the actors involved in the labour relations. At this level of analysis, we hope to deepen the knowledge of the strategies of actuation and interaction developed by the social partners. The diffusion of Best Practices of solutions of labour relations conflicts is intended. The study is guided by the following main hypothesis: A relation of dialectic influence exists between labour relations and economic and political conjuncture.
State of the art:
A temática da globalização no sentido das relações laborais e do trabalho, em Portugal, tem sido alvo de poucos estudos e análises, daí alguma dificuldade em poder reconhecer-se este facto na sua total extensão, assim como os seus elementos determinantes, de um modo aprofundado. <br />O progresso tecnológico, a concorrência e a globalização são fenómenos interdependentes, que se têm vindo a afirmar cada vez mais (Lima, 2002). Embora não se trate de fenómenos novos, o seu impacto ao nível da afectação de recursos e da organização das economias está a atingir uma fase crítica, devido ao progresso no sector das comunicações, à redução de barreiras ao comércio, à liberalização da circulação de capitais e às alterações na organização e estratégias empresariais. <br />As relações laborais e do trabalho reflectem todo um conjunto de práticas em constante transformação e ajustamento, seja à eficiência económica, à intensificação da competitividade, aos novos conceitos da gestão e produção, seja a outros elementos relacionados com a política nacional ou internacional (Lima, 2002). O aumento da competitividade global conduz a inúmeras pressões e mudanças nas empresas e nas suas tomadas de decisão estratégicas. Daí a necessidade de conhecer e interpretar alguns desses efeitos. <br />O processo de internacionalização e o consequente ajustamento das empresas às exigências da globalização expõe vários actores (empresas, trabalhadores, sindicatos), a uma série de novos panoramas sócio-económicos. <br />O impacto da globalização no emprego não é consensual. Se por um lado, surgem novas oportunidades para a criação de empresas e expansão de empresas existentes, por outro lado, estamos perante uma redução de emprego. De acordo com a Comissão Europeia, a aceleração da liberalização do comércio mundial, aliada ao fraco crescimento económico da Europa, implicará a perda de 860 mil postos de trabalho na União Europeia entre 1998 e 2010, apenas no sector têxtil e do vestuário, sectores de grande relevância para a economia portuguesa.
