Summer School on Social Dialogue
© Alice Lotti
Summer School on Social Dialogue
SOCIAL DIALOGUE AND LIVING WAGES
22–24 September 2026
How can social dialogue make living wages a reality?
Explore the answers in the Summer School on Social Dialogue, a unique space where employers, trade unionists, researchers, and policymakers come together to tackle one of today's most pressing labour challenges.
Key features
Expert-led Sessions
ILO specialists, researchers, and social partners sharing real-world wage policy expertise.
Immersive Format
3 days on the ITCILO campus in Turin — theory, case studies, and hands-on workshops.
Tripartite Perspective
Employers, trade unions, and governments — all at the table.
Peer Exchange
Network with practitioners and policymakers from around the world.
Introduction to the course
More than half of the world's wage earners are wage earners, yet many do not earn enough to live decently, particularly in low-income countries.
In response to persistent low pay and in-work poverty, initiatives promoting a living wage are increasing, including within multinational enterprises.
In February 2024, the ILO adopted a common definition of the living wage, along with principles for its estimation and implementation, and received a mandate to support its constituents in applying it.
Social dialogue plays a key role in operationalising living wage.
According to ILO principles, wages should be determined through collective bargaining or through a statutory minimum wage established within a tripartite framework.
Strong social dialogue, based on shared access to information and respect for the autonomy of social partners, makes it possible to reconcile workers' needs with economic realities while strengthening the legitimacy and effectiveness of wage policies.
Who attends this course?
This programme is intended for representatives of employers' and workers' organisations, practitioners involved in social dialogue processes, including human resources and sustainability officials within multinational enterprises, civil servants responsible for labour, members of wage-setting institutions, as well as researchers specialising in corporate governance, industrial relations, and human rights.
Voices from the programme
Hear directly from participants and experts on how social dialogue can help turn living wages into reality — and what makes the Summer School experience distinct.
Delivered in partnership with
This training is organised in cooperation between the ITCILO, the International Labour Organisation and with the financial support of the French Ministry of Labour, Health and Solidarity.
What will I be able to do?
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Analyse the challenges and opportunities related to the introduction and implementation of living wages.
- Understand the role of tripartite social dialogue and collective bargaining in integrating living wages into wage-setting systems.
- Identify innovative practices and institutional arrangements supporting the implementation of living wages in different national contexts.
- Promote evidence-based dialogue at the enterprise, sectoral and national level on wage policies
How does the course work?
- The programme will combine theoretical presentations, comparative analysis, participatory workshops and expert testimonies.
- It will also include a dedicated research section where contributors selected through a competitive process will present innovative work on social dialogue, wage setting and living wages.
- Drawing on national and international experiences, these contributions will stimulate debate, deepen understanding of the institutional conditions for more equitable wage policies, and strengthen the links between theory and practice.
Practical information
- Language — The entire training programme is conducted in English and French, with interpretation provided in both languages.
- Payment and cancellation — The total fee must be paid in advance. To withdraw, notify the Centre in writing at least 14 days before the course start date. See the full payment and cancellation policy.
- Accommodation — The course fee includes full board accommodation at the ITCILO campus in Turin, routine medical care, medical insurance, and internet access.
- How to apply — Complete the online application form via Apply Now before the deadline. Sponsored applicants must include a sponsorship letter covering course fees.
Your questions answered
Is prior experience in social dialogue required to attend?
No specific prior experience is required, though the course is designed for practitioners, representatives of employers' and workers' organisations, civil servants, and researchers already engaged in or exposed to labour relations and social dialogue topics.
What languages is the course delivered in?
The Summer School is delivered in French and English, with simultaneous interpretation provided in both languages throughout the sessions.
Does the course fee include accommodation?
Yes. The total fee includes full board accommodation at the ITCILO campus in Turin, along with routine medical care, medical insurance, and internet access. Travel, visa, and airport tax costs are not included.
Can I present my own research at the Summer School?
Yes, if your contribution is selected. Each edition includes a call for research submissions, published on the course webpage, inviting candidates to submit original work on selected topics. Those chosen present their findings during the Summer School and receive financial support of €4,000. For the 2026 edition, the submission deadline was March 2026; details for future calls will be published on this page ahead of each edition.
Will I receive a certificate for attending the Summer School?
Yes. Participants who successfully complete the Summer School receive an ITCILO Certificate of Participation.
Join the ITCILO Summer School on Social Dialogue
Explore living wages, collective bargaining, and wage-setting systems with global experts.
Start your learning journey
This course is part of the broader ITCILO Social Dialogue curriculum, spanning conciliation/mediation, negotiation, industrial relations, and more.
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