Abstract: It is generally considered that globalisation is creating pressures on employers toward a deregulation of labour relations. This paper explores how institutional advantages resulting from a labour relations policy may have benefits for employers that outweigh their costs. To that end, the author examines the building services sector in Quebec which is covered by the decree system, a working conditions extension mechanism unique in North America. The comparative institutional advantages of the decree system help employers to secure greater labour market stability and low-inflation wage settlements, which accounts for the relatively good economic performance of the sector.
International Journal of Comparative Labour Law and Industrial Relations