Social and Economic Council

The SER headed this structure and served as important partner for the national government.

In the 1950s and 60s, the SER was particularly successful in ensuring economic growth through close cooperation between government, trade unions and employers' organisations.

In the 1970s, because of rising political polarisation and the 1973 oil crisis, the SER was unable to resolve economic problems.

In the 1980s the SER returned to the centre of the economic policy making, as it was the platform for dialogue between the government and its social partners.

The role of the sector-based regulatory organisations began to decline and the SER increasingly took the role of an advisory council of government; in 1997 the Senate and House of Representatives were granted the right to submit enquiry commissions to the SER.

For example in the field of employee participation, healthy and safe working, employment inspections and pensions.