The session presented a historical and comparative perspective of labour institutions in Europe and, particularly, Spain. More specifically, the speakers and participants discussed economic or industrial democracy in businesses . This topic was approached firstly in its more conventional form, centred on collective bargaining and the setting of working conditions. It was then explored in its less extended conception, which includes the organised participation of workers in management.

The first part of the session, moderated by Teresa Torns, contained a presentation by Danièle Linhart, expert in the sociology of labour in France. The session addressed topics such as labour organisation, scientific organisation as a systematic individualization of the management and organisation of employees' work, and the dehumanisation of labour, among others.

The second part of the session, entitled “Labour and labour management in Spain in historical perspective. The role of the company and business organisations and the relationship with workers and their unions”, was moderated by Javier Tébar with speakers Núria Mallorquí, Marcial Sánchez-Mosquera and  Andrea Tappi, experts in history and economic Institutions, and Mónica Pérez, expert in occupational health. This session discussed industrial democracy, participation and management of the company, collective bargaining systems, formal education and trade union organisations in terms of democratic participation in companies. At the end of the session, the speakers reflected on two important topics: the concept of work and training, and the continuous change of professions and trades.

The last session, entitled “The study of labour in Spain. New sources, new gender approaches and more dialogue between disciplines'', was moderated by Marcial Sánchez-Mosquera with the participation of speakers Mentxu Gutiérrez, head of the Secretary of Women and LGTBI Policies of the CCOO of Catalonia; Pere Jódar, Professor of Sociology, Universitat Pompeu Fabra; and Teresa Torns, Professor of Sociology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. This session focused on workers’ participation within companies, collective bargaining, women and labour from a historical perspective, and gender as a fundamental element of economic, political and social democracy. The speakers expressed that questions of gender are fundamental if we want to talk about democracy, because they are a key factor for maintaining the quality of a democracy itself.

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