The purpose of the conference is to promote an open debate on the state of play and the upcoming challenges for industrial relations’ actors in relation to workers returning to work after illness or for those with chronic diseases. Given the rapidly changing labour market landscape, including the effects of Covid-19, the discussion aims to explore future opportunities for return to work offered by the new EU Disability Rights Strategy for 2021-2030 and the EU Strategic Framework on Health & Safety at Work for 2021-2027. The panels will bring together participants from EU member states and EU-level organisations, inviting them to share developments in social partner strategies in return-to-work initiatives in their respective countries.

The research project “Negotiating return to work in the age of demographic change through industrial relations” (REWIR - VS/2019/0075) will inform the discussion. Its findings will show how different industrial relations and social dialogue practices contribute to the shape of return-to-work policies and extend working lives in the EU member states. Further information can be found on the project website: https://www.celsi.sk/en/projects/detail/64/ .