Danish construction sector collective bargaining in the shadow of foreign labor

Abstract

Collective bargaining and collaboration between the social partners in the Danish construction sector has long been characterized by good cooperative relations. However, since EU-enlargement in 2004 and 2007, an increasing inflow of foreign workers and firms from the new Central and Eastern European member states has generated debate about underpayment, unfair competition and social dumping. During the collective bargaining rounds in 2007 , 2010, 2012 and 2014 foreign labor and social dumping were the dominant themes in the construction industry. An analysis of these bargaining rounds shows that the parties have managed to create several actor - driven innovations in the collective agreements that address sectorspecific issues arising from the presence of foreign labor . At the same time the analysis also indicates that the theme of the foreign workers has created tensions between the parties. In addition, EU judgments , the economic crisis , pressure from workers, employers and politicians has increased the demand for the social partners to act while limiting their room for action.