As employers' organisations, Pearle* members across Europe are involved in collective bargaining, which includes agreements between management and workers on several aspects of working conditions. Such agreements create a level playing field for those involved but also can be a point of reference for others. Social partners also often initiate the creation of other types of structures, such as social funds, training bodies, career offices, pension funds, prevention organisms, support and advisory bodies for victims of transgressive behaviour or sexual harassment, and others.

The European Union has a large amount of legislation in the field of labour and employment law, equality and anti-discrimination, and health and safety. Additionally, coordination rules on social security and posting also fall within the scope. The European Union also promotes social dialogue and encourages social partners to take part in EU policy-making.

Pearle* is the only European employers' association recognised by the European Commission to take part in the European sectoral social dialogue committee "live performance". As such, Pearle* is consulted under Article 154 TFEU by the DG Employment on social affairs issues.

The European social partners work together on topics agreed on a work programme. The main headings for the current three-year work programme 2025-2027 are:

• Social dialogue and the role of the sectoral social partners, including capacity building
• Health and safety, including risk assessment and new areas
• Training and skills, follow-up of ongoing activities and in relation to EU initiatives
• Mobility of workers in the performing arts sector 
• Gender Equality and diversity
• Issues related to the economic situation of the sector and EU initiatives
• Freedom of Artistic Expression

The European sectoral social dialogue provides a forum for discussion, exchange and sharing of good practices. Social partners undertake joint projects on topics in the work programme and through this contribute to social partner work across Europe and in relation to EU social policy objectives.

In October 2019, social partners celebrated 20 years since the creation of the European sectoral social dialogue committee “live performance”. Find more information and a joint declaration in the right column on this page.

In March 2022, social partners developed a database on social partner initiatives related to gender equality, which can be accessed on the dedicated website. 

Pearle* is often involved in projects with social partners : 

Current

• Reviewing and updating OiRA tools in the live performance sector (2025-2027)
• Creative Skills Europe: promoting further cooperation and social dialogue to enhance access to training in the audiovisual and live performance sectors (2026-2028)

Past

• Live Performance Capacity building: Strengthening capacities in the live performance sector (2023-2025)
• Framework of Action on skills: disseminating the FoA on skills in the European live performance and audiovisual sectors (2023-2025)

Download the work programme 2025-2027 below.