Sozialpartnerschaft

Social Partnership: a system of co-operation between employers' organisations (Employers' Associations) and employees' organisations (Workers' Representation). In Austria the social partnership system is highly developed and in the Second Republic it has always played an important part in maintaining social peace. In Austria the social partnership system also includes co-operation between the government and the social partners, which is effected through the Paritätische Kommission (established in 1957) and the institutions subordinated to it, such as the Advisory Board for Economic Affairs and many other commissions and advisory boards. The system plays an important part in economic policy-making, especially in the fields of incomes policy and economic stabilisation policies. The institution of social partnership also exists in other countries, mainly in EU member states. In Austria Economic Chambers, Chambers of Agriculture, Chambers of Labour (Chambers of Labour) and the Trade Unions are involved in the social partnership system, where they are represented at national level (as well as in the provinces) by their head organisations.

Literature: H. Pribyl, Sozialpartnerschaft in Österreich, 1991.