"This study investigates the role of social dialogue in safeguarding vulnerable groups in Italy and Spain during the COVID-19 pandemic. It employs two theoretical frameworks: crisis corporatism and institutionalised power relations. The analysis reveals that while both countries engaged in crisis corporatism, social dialogue in Italy was predominantly bilateral. Only one tripartite agreement was signed, highlighting the government's dominant role. In contrast, Spain experienced a revitalisation of tripartite social dialogue both during and after the pandemic, bolstered by formal institutions such as the Consejo Económico y Social and strong alliances among social partners and political actors. These findings suggest that institutional legacies and pre-existing power dynamics significantly influence the extent and effectiveness of crisis-induced corporatism in each country. Ultimately, it is these factors rather than the mere occurrence of an external crisis that determine the efficacy of social dialogue in protecting vulnerable groups during periods of upheaval."

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