The enhancement and development of social partnership between the state, employer, and employee on an equal basis is one of the main requirements for constructive resolution of contradictions between the subjects of social and labor relations. However, there are important questions regarding what necessities and preconditions exist for the development of tripartite relations.

Participants of the discussion highlighted that the state has not been playing its role in the development of social-labor relations. For the last five to six years, it has been trying to abandon its function of management instead of setting and protecting adequate rules of the game. The rhetoric about “socially responsible” business has become nothing but an attempt to shift the responsibility from the state to business. The current situation demonstrates that the state lacks, first of all, a clear understanding of the role of business in the state economy, and secondly, a clear understanding of how the state should help and foster domestic business.

It was also stated that the “employer” component in the “state-employer-employee” triad is practically missing in legal terms. The character of the current legislation is coercive and punitive, and does nothing to protect the employer. There is no business index in the country, which is related to the fact that the state has been allowing the “rule of the telephone call” instead of establishing and enforcing standard and commonly accepted rules of the game.

The introduction and development of tripartite relations would promote the protection and development of business - the main employer and creator of jobs. Only when they are confident about their future can businesses serve as a stimulator of the economic development of the country.

The “employee” component, represented by trade unions (“profsoyuzy”), has not been playing its proper role either. Such unions remain a part of the state, and their activities essentially come down to the protection of their property. Still, it was stated that the very existence of labor unions provides an opportunity, if they are appropriately reformed for an effective representation of employees in the “state-employer-employee” triad.

Experts identified two main challenges for the development of tripartism in the country. Firstly, there is a very weak tradition and culture of social dialogue in the country. Not long ago, the state served as both a regulator of social-labor relations and an employer, while representatives of employee’s interests – trade unions – were basically part of the Communist party.

Secondly, in the current situation, in which the state is weak and corrupt, business is vulnerable legally and employees are extremely dependent on employers due to a high unemployment rate.  Under such circumstances, there are serious doubts about the readiness of parties to establish and maintain tripartite communication.