In the context of global economic growth slowing down in 2013，labor markets face significant challenges. Crisis-related global job gaps increased to 62 millions. Almost 202 million people were unemployed in 2013 around the world. The unemployment rate is expected to be at elevated levels for many years to come. Unemployment is becoming more persistent. Informal employment remains widespread in most developing countries，which hampers sustainable poverty reduction.Persistent weakness in labor markets and economic growth necessetates a policy rethink. The International Labor Organization （ILO） recommended that weak aggregate demand be addressed through improved labor incomes and less fiscal consolidation and skill mismatch be addressed through active labor market policies.

The last three years have been dominated by the impacts of the financial and economic crisis on social security systems around the world，which have considerably transformed the environment in which social security institutions operate. The changes in the labor market，economic，financial，health and social environments have required a rethinking of the roles of social security programmes and the ways in which benefits and services are designed and delivered. Recent successful interventions in some countries have confirmed the role of social security systems as a shock absorber in times of crisis to ensure that societies not only continue to protect vulnerable populations in an effective and efficient way but facilitate higher levels of social and economic inclusion and more sustainable and equitable economic growth.

In 2012，changes in the governance of the overall industrial relations system，collective bargaining and the regulations regarding industrial action have been recorded in some EU member states. Most of the changes relate to collective bargaining mechanism，especially those at sectoral and enterprise levels，the topics of the bargaining include employment conditions，wages，occupational health and safety，technical training and working hours etc.