The report is based on a review of collective agreements and practices in 80 countries at different levels of economic development and the legal and regulatory frameworks in 125 countries. Regulatory coverage by collective agreements varies considerably across countries, regions and levels of development. According to the report, over one third of employees in 98 countries  have their pay and working conditions regualated by one or more collective agreements (from over 75 per cent in many European countries and Uruguay to below 25 per cent in around half of the countries for which data are available).

It focuses on the contribution that employers’ and workers’ organizations make to the inclusive and effective governance of work through CB.

Among the most common CB provisions in the context of the Covid 19 crisis, are the strengthening of occupational safety and health (OSH) in the workplace, together with paid sick leave and other health benefits, as well as telework and hybrid work.

Moreover, 59 per cent of the collective agreements reviewed by the ILO study shows a commitment to address gender inequality by ensuring equal pay for work of equal value and to promote the inclusion of women, young people, migrant workers and other vulnerable categories of workers, expanding the opportunities for decent work.

Looking to the future, the report considers the contribution of collective bargaining to a human-centred recovery, highlighting the need to reaffirm the democratic principles and rights, such as freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining, as founding principles.