IWPLMS & IREC Joint Conference 2026
setembre 16 - setembre 18
Oslo (Norway) | 16 – 18 September 2026
Labour Market Segmentation and Inequality in Contemporary Societies
The Fafo Institute for Labour and Social Research will host the joint conference of the Industrial Relations in Europe Conference (IREC) and the 44th Conference of the International Working Party on Labour Market Segmentation (IWPLMS), to be held in Oslo from 16 to 18 September 2026.
This international academic conference will bring together researchers working on labour markets, industrial relations and social inequalities to discuss one of the key challenges facing contemporary societies: the rise of inequality and the increasing segmentation of labour markets. The meeting is conceived as a space for interdisciplinary dialogue and comparative analysis on the structural transformations shaping employment systems.
The overarching theme of the conference focuses on identifying the factors driving labour market inequalities and segmentation, as well as exploring possible strategies to counteract these trends. Particular attention will be given to the role of institutions, including social partners and public authorities, in addressing labour market dualisation. The conference will also examine whether existing institutional frameworks are able to integrate workers in more precarious or marginal positions, or whether alternative approaches are needed.
The International Working Party on Labour Market Segmentation (IWPLMS) promotes a multidisciplinary and comparative perspective to analyse the processes that generate and reproduce inequalities in labour markets. In parallel, the Industrial Relations in Europe Conference (IREC), established in 1992, has become a key network for research on industrial relations in Europe. The joint conference provides an opportunity to connect these two research traditions and foster exchange between different academic communities.
The scientific committee includes Richard Hyman, Jill Rubery, Barbara Bechter, Sonja Bekker, Karen Jaehrling and Guglielmo Meardi.
🔗 More info: www.fafo.no/fafoconferences2026