Employment Relations in Chile and Argentina

Abstract

IntroductionThe study of employment relations in Chile and Argentina has been the outcome of research in various disciplines particularly sociology, political science, law, and history. This broadly defined scholarship has followed similar lines of analysis in both countries, reflecting their parallel socio-economic transformations and corresponding changes in employment relations actors and institutions. From the rise of import substituting industrialisation and developmentalist populist regimes in the 1930s, which provided the base upon which 'classic' employment relations systems began to take shape, to the crises and replacement of such regimes by military dictatorships and the introduction of neoliberalism in the 1970s, which redefined the relationship between capital and labour.A review of the literature has identified two main foci of study that roughly overlap with these two socio-economic eras. A more traditional line of enquiry has focused on the centrality of labour movements in the making of history, politics and socio-economic development of each country and has been particularly concerned with examining the shifting relations between trade unions, the state, and political parties. A more contemporary focus of study has concentrated on the imposition of neoliberalism, transitions to democracy, labour reform as well as on the implications of new managerial practices on the dynamics of employment relations.With regard to the first focus, the literature on Chilean employment relations can be traced back to historians working from a classic Marxist tradition (Barría, 1971; Jobet, 1951; Ramírez Necochea, 1956; Segall, 1953). 1 They centred on organised workers -particularly the industrial and mining proletariat-whose social 1 The citations included within this section are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to provide an exhaustive overview of the literatures in question.

The effects of the pandemic on gig economy couriers in Argentina and Chile: Precarity, algorithmic control and mobilization

“…It is useful to study the cases of Argentina and Chile in order to understand how two labour systems considered to be polar opposites in the region affect the way in which the platforms operate. Public policy goals and the role of unions and other workers' organizations have moved in different directions in the two countries in recent decades (Atzeni, Durán Palma and Ghigliani 2011). In Chile, successive governments have taken a neoliberal tack which, since the military dictatorship, has given precedence to the deregulation of industrial relations and hindered trade union development (Winn 2004;Sehnbruch 2006).…”

Neoliberalism in Argentina and Chile: common antecedents, divergent paths

“…The collective rights achieved during the Perón years (1946)(1947)(1948)(1949)(1950)(1951)(1952)(1953)(1954)(1955) resulted in the labour movement gaining significant industrial and political power. The Argentine labour movement was incorporated into the party political system by becoming the structural, ideological, and financial base of Peronism (Atzeni, Durán-Palma & Ghigliani 2011). As mentioned earlier, the reforms lead by Menem's governments (1989-1999) had a profound impact on the labour market (unemployment reached 19% in 1995).…”

“…The number of collective agreements increased from 348 in 2004 to 1,231 in 2008. Despite unions' proportionally diminished number of members, union density among unionised workers remains at 40% (Atzeni, Durán-Palma & Ghigliani 2011). Likewise, union bargaining among formal employees in Argentina was over 70% in 200770% in (ILO 2008, which is a considerable number in the Latin American context.…”

“…Taylor 2006;Ffrench-Davis 2010;Etchemendy 2011). Other studies have compared the position of actors within national economic systems, such as industrial relations (Atzeni, Durán-Palma & Ghigliani 2011), business politics (E. Silva 1996;Schneider 2004), tax systems (Fairfield 2010), or models of citizenship (L. Taylor 1998). Another type of research has focused on the ideas that have influenced the economic thinking of policy makers, particularly ideas coming from the Economics Department at the University of Chicago (Valdés 1995;Centeno & Silva 1998;Biglaiser 2002;Dezalay & Garth 2002;Heredia 2008;P.…”