Abstract

This paper analyzes the role of social partners in the governance of the Italian systems of continuous vocational training. Despite the relevance of the social dialogue approach emphasized at the European level, few empirical studies address the issue of the interactions between the social partners in planning and developing training programs. Through focus group and individual and collective interviews with 42 Italian social partners representatives of the metal-machinery industry, this study provides evidences about the quality of the interactions between trade unions and employer associations in the design, implementation and evaluation of training programs funded by the Italian bipartite body Fondimpresa. The main results show that at the national level the interactions between the social partners seem to work in a quite effective way, while at the territorial and company level the training issue remains a prerogative of the employer. These results are partially determined by the lack of technical skills of the trade union representatives in the workplace, which often results in a concessive approach to training negotiation with the employers. Finally, the interactions between the social partners are negatively affected by the low level of strategic and operational coordination among the various levels of action of the actors themselves.