Regulating the gig economy: promises and limits of social dialogue in Switzerland

In Switzerland, labour market regulation traditionally takes place through collective bargaining and social dialogue, based on decentralized and consensual relations between trade unions and employers' associations. The legal and political debates related to the gig economy do not question the existing model of industrial relations. More precisely, it is assumed that gig economy issues can be tackled in the present framework of labour law, social protection and social dialogue. Nonetheless, the three case studies on cleaning, bike delivery and transportation explored in this chapter show that social dialogue at firm or sector level is faced with difficulties and does not (yet) properly address issues related to the gig economy. Thus, while this model has shown high resilience in the face of financial and economic globalization, evidence suggests that in relation to the gig economy social partners need a stronger support from public authorities. Also, long-standing trade unions need to develop innovative strategies that would enhance gig workers' capacity to organize and negotiate.