Social Dialogue with Brazil

During the first week of may the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO) together with the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted a delegation from Brazil comprising of government officials, representatives from labour organisations and business member organisations. The delegation visited Norway under the auspices of the two countries Social Dialogue Programme. The delegation’s visit focused on matters surrounding Norway’s Tripartite System.

Special Advisor to the President of Brazil, José Renato Vieira Martins, said Brazil is committed to creating a framework for institutional dialogue between all social partners participating in Brazil’s economy. He underscored the importance of social dialogue in creating companies and industries that will stimulate Brazil’s economy. Martins emphasized the importance of dialogue conducted on the basis of equality in order to initiate national development in Brazil. He also pledged the Brazilian government’s commitment to continuing this social dialogue with Norway, saying it corresponds directly  to Brazil’s national initiatives with regard to including the input of civil society.

On Tripartism LO President Roar Flåthen said that even though there is not always agreement between the different stakeholders and the process of negotiation is not always harmonious. The important element characterising dialogue is respect.  Mr Flåthen noted that cooperation is important in bringing about economic growth in Brazil and consequently good working conditions for employees. Svein Oppegaard Executive Director of NHO observed that it is important for management and workers to be on the same side as this increases any company’s profitability.

NHO’s sister organisation Confederação Nacional da Indústria (CNI) was represented by Executive Manager Emerson Casali.  Mr Casali was impressed with the respectful relationship existing between NHO and LO. He said the challenge now lies with CNI to develop a mechanism and legal framework that will stimulate confidence and create laws that will facilitate cooperation and cohesion between employers and employees in order to reduce incidences of conflict. Mr Casali noted that providing a healthy environment and safe work place is a challenge for most employers in Brazil. He said more often than not industrial conflicts are resolved by court decisions, he observed that the Norwegian tripartite system shows how conflicts can be dealt with in a manner characterised with cooperation, bargaining solutions and negotiations. Aparecido Donizeti da Silva a representative from Central Única dos Trabalha (CUT) the main trade union in Brazil observed that the concept of social dialogue has not fully matured in Brazil, he supported the idea of a legal framework allowing  for cohesive dialogue between labour unions and industrial organisations.

During their one week visit, the Brazilian delegation also visited NHO member company Aker Subsea in Tranby 30km south west of Oslo. Aker Subsea deals in offshore oil and gas production. It opened its first plant in Brazil almost 20 years ago. Aker Subsea deals with high technology sitting on seabeds, deep water satellite trees, sub sea processing, drilling systems  and ceiling technologies to ensure there are no leakages of oil under the sea, among other things.