Trends and Developments in Employment Relations and the World of Work in Developing Countries

Abstract

This article takes as its starting point the fundamental changes in the past two to three decades in labour market institutions and processes in the developing countries of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The article examines two critical forces in the evolution and development of employment relations in many of these countries: the transformation from dictatorship to democracy and the globalization of national economies. The author provides an outline of the forces at play and their implications for employment relations; it considers public policy responses and their effect on workers and employers’ organizations. It then examines the changing nature of collective bargaining, the most critical benefit of unionization. Finally, the article discusses the role of national-level social dialogue and its contribution to social and economic policy making.