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EU Level developments

• 28 Dec 1998
  EU Level: Codes of conduct and adherence to international labour standards<#PDF_LINK>

  The observance by multinational companies of international labour, human rights and environmental standards is an issue of increasing concern among policy-makers, social partner organisations and individual companies. Codes of conduct and "social labels" are more and more at the forefront of attempts to ensure that certain minimum standards are upheld in trading relationships. However, concerns are increasingly being voiced over the quality of these statements of intent and their verifiability. To contribute to this debate, in November 1998 the European Commission organised a workshop devoted to the exchange of good practice in relation to the monitoring of codes of conduct and social labels.

• 28 Dec 1998
  EU Level: Commission tables draft Directive on national information and consultation<#PDF_LINK>

  On 11 November 1998, the European Commission issued a proposal for a Directive "establishing a general framework for informing and consulting employees in the European Community". The move followed the refusal of UNICE, the European-level employers' organisation, to enter into negotiations over a European agreement on the subject. The draft Directive provides for rules on the information and consultation of workers at national level - based on agreement or legislation - applying to undertakings with 50 or more employees. The European Trade Union Confederation welcomed the draft Directive, but considers that it does not go far enough on a number of issues. UNICE rejects European legislation in this area as unnecessary.

• 28 Dec 1998
  EU Level: Social dialogue in postal services leads to agreement on promoting employment<#PDF_LINK>

  The nature of and delivery of postal services has changed significantly over the past decade as a result of technological changes and changes in consumer demands. This has had a significant impact on the nature and volume of employment in the sector. In response to these challenges, the EU-level social partners in postal services signed in October 1998 a framework agreement on the promotion of employment in the sector, which aims to improve working conditions, enhance consultative arrangements and ensure that employees are able to adapt to technological developments.

• 28 Dec 1998
  EU Level: Cleaning industry social partners demand action against illegal work<#PDF_LINK>

  On the eve of the European Council summit in Vienna in December 1998, the European-level social partners in the cleaning industry, Euro-FIET and EFCI, signed a joint declaration calling for an immediate end to undeclared work. The document calls for Member State action to curb such illegal work, including the provision of greater incentives for legitimate businesses.

• 28 Dec 1998
  EU Level: Social partners in the sugar industry sign joint declaration on training<#PDF_LINK>

  In December 1998, the European-level social partners in the sugar industry, ECF-IUF for trade unions and CEFS for employers, signed a joint declaration on vocational training in their sector. The declaration aims to promote employability and the integration of young people into the labour market.

• 28 Dec 1998
  EU Level: ETUC and UNICE respond to new Employment Guidelines<#PDF_LINK>

  TheEuropean Trade Union Confederation(ETUC) and the European employer organisation,UNICE, have adopted their positions on the new Commission Employment Guidelines for 1999 (eu9810130F) issued in October 1998. Both organisations emphasise the importance to pursue economic, social and labour market policies which are mutually re-enforcing. However, with regard to the nature and shape of these policies, opinions diverge significantly. ETUC supports the development of a co-ordinated growth and employment-friendly macro-economic strategy where verbal commitments in relation to job creation are backed up by financial commitments. UNICE, on the other hand, emphasises the need for a continuance and strengthening of the structural reforms implemented in many Member States in the run up to the deadline for the EMU convergence criteria. Employment and employability is to be encouraged through greater labour market flexibility and the lowering of indirect labour costs without setting quantitative targets.

• 28 Dec 1998
  EU Level: UNICE welcomes Commission Communication on social dialogue<#PDF_LINK>

  In November 1998, UNICE, the European employers' organisation, issued a generally positive response to the May 1998 Commission Communication on adapting and promoting the social dialogue at Community level. The UNICE paper emphasises that the decision whether or not to set up sectoral social dialogue committees should remain voluntary, and regrets the decision not to extend the deadlines for consultations under the Maastricht social policy Agreement on a case-by-case basis.

• 28 Dec 1998
  EU Level: Vienna summit reaffirms employment as priority<#PDF_LINK>

  The European Council meeting in Vienna on 11-12 December 1998 emphasised commitment to employment as the EU's top priority. Member States commended themselves and one another for the progress achieved in implementing the 1998 Employment Guidelines and welcomed the Commission's proposed 1999 Guidelines. Particular emphasis was placed on the achievement of a coordinated economic and employment strategy, the "mainstreaming" of equal opportunities and making a reality of the concept of lifelong learning.

• 28 Dec 1998
  EU Level: Social Affairs Council agrees health and safety Directives<#PDF_LINK>

  Meeting in December 1998, EU Labour and Social Affairs Ministers reached agreement on proposed Directives on the protection of workers from exposure to carcinogens in the workplace and on protection from explosive atmospheres. Worker involvement in the European Company Statute and new education and training initiatives were also discussed. The social affairs Commissioner, Pádraig Flynn, introduced new legislative proposals on national worker information and consultation and on the extension of the working time Directive to excluded sectors.

• 28 Dec 1998
  EU Level: European Company Statute proposal blocked by Spanish resistance<#PDF_LINK>

  Despite hopes of a breakthrough in the 28-year effort to reach a compromise on employee involvement in a European Company, the EU Labour and Social Affairs Council of 2 December 1998 failed to deliver, amid resistance from the Spanish government.

• 28 Oct 1998
  EU Level: Draft Employment Guidelines for 1999 emphasise continuity<#PDF_LINK>

  On 14 October 1998, the European Commission adopted its proposal for the 1999Employment Guidelines. These stress the need for continuity and consolidation and closely follow the 1998 Guidelines, but contain further emphasis on measures to help integrate people from ethnic minorities into the labour market, promote lifelong learning and promote the job-creation potential of the services sector. The Guidelines were informed by the 1998Employment Rates Reportand the draft 1998Joint Employment Report, which were published on the same day. The former charts the employment performance of the EU and the latter highlights the experience of the implementation of the 1998 National Action Plans on employment.

• 28 Oct 1998
  EU Level: Social partners in footwear sector extend charter on child labour to cover retail<#PDF_LINK>

  On 16 September 1998, the European-level social partners in the footwear industry signed a common accord to extend the coverage of their charter on child labour, initially formulated in March 1995, to cover footwear retailing as well as manufacture. The issue of child labour has been one of the key concerns of the social dialogue in this sector.

• 28 Oct 1998
  EU Level: ETUC urges action to stem tide of global economic crisis<#PDF_LINK>

  In October 1998, the executive committee of the European Trade Union Confederation adopted a statement on "Europe and the global crisis", calling upon European central banks and EU Member States to institute monetary and budgetary measures to counteract a global downturn. It is argued that inaction or an overcautious approach would prove more damaging for the global economy and employment.

• 28 Oct 1998
  EU Level: UNICE decides against negotiations on national information and consultation rights<#PDF_LINK>

  On 16 October 1998, a meeting of the UNICE council of presidents again rejected the opportunity to negotiate with ETUC and CEEP on national employee information and consultation rights, on the basis of the Maastricht social policy Agreement. The Commission will now propose Community legislation in this area.

• 28 Sep 1998
  EU Level: Social partners fail to reach agreement on working time in road transport<#PDF_LINK>

  The European social partners in the road transport sector failed to reach an agreement on working time in their sector, ending its exclusion from the "EU working time Directive", before the deadline of 30 September 1998. The Commission will now bring forward its own proposals. These developments follow an international day of action organised by transport unions on 8 September to highlight working time problems facing lorry drivers.

• 28 Sep 1998
  EU Level: Euro-FIET gears up for EMU<#PDF_LINK>

  At its March 1998 conference, EURO-FIET- which brings together trade unions representing private sector services and white-collar workers from across Europe - launched a strategy paper responding to the anticipated impact of Economic and Monetary Union on employment and collective bargaining. The paper emphasises the need to recognise the social dimension of EMU and to coordinate bargaining strategies at sectoral level across the Union. Since the conference, Euro-FIET has taken some first steps towards implementation of its strategy.

• 28 Sep 1998
  EU Level: UNICE responds to second-stage consultations on sectors excluded from working time Directive<#PDF_LINK>

  On 17 September 1998, UNICE issued its response to the second stage of consultations by the European Commission on sectors and activities excluded from the 1993 working time Directive. The European employers' organisation continues to have reservations about adopting a differentiated approach for dealing with the issue. It also stresses that it would like to obtain more evidence of the gaps which the Commission perceives in national legislation and which it argues need to be remedied.

• 28 Aug 1998
  EU Level: The sectoral social dialogue in transport: Working time firmly on top of the agenda<#PDF_LINK>

  The European sectoral social dialogue in transport has hitherto operated largely through joint committees in the areas of road transport, inland navigation, railways, maritime transport and civil aviation. In recent years, the dialogue has tended to be dominated by the issue of working time, following the passage of the 1993 working time Directive, the subsequent publication of a White Paper on the sectors excluded from the Directive, and 1998's launch of second-phase consultations with the social partners on regulating working time in these sectors.

• 28 Aug 1998
  EU Level: European social dialogue: preparing for accession<#PDF_LINK>

  Negotiations over the accession to the European Union of a number of Central and Eastern European countries are progressing during 1998. This feature outlines the challenges posed to the EU social dialogue process by accession and the initiatives which have been taken to prepare governments, trade unions and employer organisations in Central and Eastern Europe to enable them to work within existing EU social dialogue structures.

• 28 Aug 1998
  EU Level: Building the European social dialogue in construction<#PDF_LINK>

  The sectoral social dialogue process in the European construction industry began formally in 1992. The improvement of employment opportunities through vocational training has been a priority in the dialogue in this key sector for employment creation. There has also been a long-standing concern in the dialogue with training in relation to health and safety issues. Other areas of concern up until 1998 have been skills shortages and the coverage of self-employed and transfrontier workers by social protection systems.

• 28 Aug 1998
  EU Level: Commission adopts proposals to update Directives on freedom of movement<#PDF_LINK>

  In July 1998, the European Commission adopted three proposals aimed at updating existing legislation in relation to the freedom of movement of EU citizens within the countries of the Union. The proposals are designed to support the European employment strategy and in particular to reinforce the principle of equal treatment for EU workers and clarify and simplify the rules concerning rights of residence. A third proposal aims to merge two existing tripartite consultative committees in the area into a single body.

• 28 Aug 1998
  EU Level: Workers' employability to be priority for training aid<#PDF_LINK>

  In July 1998, the European Commission adopted a framework which seeks to clarify the circumstances under which state aid granted to companies for training their workers is compatible with the rules of the common market in relation to the distortion of competition. The framework aims to confirm the positive approach of the Commission to state aid granted for training which improves workers' "employability".

• 28 Jul 1998
  EU Level: The European social dialogue in commerce: an expanding agenda<#PDF_LINK>

  Approximately 16% of workers in the EU are employed in wholesaling and retailing, making commerce a key sector in terms of measures to encourage employment creation. There has been a long-standing concern in the European social dialogue in the sector over the improvement of standards in vocational training, particularly to enable workers to remain competitive and deal with new challenges, such as electronic commerce. For the last few years, the key priority of the dialogue has been employment, while other areas of activity include child labour, racism and xenophobia and preparations for the accession of new EU Member States. We review the position of the commerce dialogue in summer 1998.

• 28 Jul 1998
  EU Level: Euro-FIET adopts resolution on achievement of Social Europe<#PDF_LINK>

  At its conference in March 1998, Euro-FIET - which brings together trade unions representing private sector services and white-collar workers from across Europe - adopted an important resolution setting out its priorities for the European social dialogue and European Works Councils

• 28 Jul 1998
  EU Level: UNICE adopts position on international labour standards<#PDF_LINK>

  In June 1998, the European employers' organisation, UNICE, adopted a position paper in which it welcomes the adoption of a declaration on fundamental human rights by the ILO. The declaration calls upon the ILO's 174 member nations to respect a number of core ILO Conventions.

• 28 Jul 1998
  EU Level: Social affairs ministers reaffirm commitment to eliminate sex discrimination<#PDF_LINK>

  Meeting in Austria on 8-10 July 1998, EU social affairs ministers reaffirmed their commitment to a "mainstreaming" policy in order to achieve greater equality of opportunity between men and women in all areas of life.

• 28 Jul 1998
  EU Level: UNICE rejects the inclusion of social criteria in procurement<#PDF_LINK>

  In a position paper issued in June 1998, UNICE underlined its opposition to the inclusion of social criteria in public procurement tenders. While all companies should respect legislation in this area, inclusion of such criteria in public tenders is considered as unnecessary interference.

• 28 Jul 1998
  EU Level: Employers may re-evaluate decision not to negotiate on national information and consultation<#PDF_LINK>

  In July 1998, as a leaked Commission proposal for a draft Directive on national information and consultation circulated in Brussels, the European employers' organisation, UNICE, hinted at a willingness to go back to its member federations to see if a mandate for negotiations on the issue, on the basis of the Maastricht social policy Agreement, could be achieved.

• 28 Jul 1998
  EU Level: ECJ rejects UEAPME's case against the parental leave Directive<#PDF_LINK>

  In June 1998, the European Court of Justice rejected a case brought by UEAPME, the European organisation which seeks to represent SMEs. UEAPME had claimed that the EU Directive on parental leave should be annulled or ruled inapplicable to its members, as it had been excluded from the negotiating process for the agreement on which the Directive was based.

• 28 Jun 1998
  EU Level: Cardiff summit debates next steps in employment strategy<#PDF_LINK>

  The European Council meeting which took place under the UK Presidency in Cardiff on 15-16 June 1998 predictably focused on the issues of Economic and Monetary Union and employment, drawing on the Member States' recently submitted National Action Plans for employment. This feature presents the Presidency conclusions and the expectations of the social partners of the summit, as well as some initial reactions.

• 28 Jun 1998
  EU Level: The European social dialogue - impasse or new opportunities?<#PDF_LINK>

  In May 1998, the European Commission published a Communication on Adapting and promoting the social dialogue at Community level, proposing a number of modifications to the current operation of the European intersectoral and sectoral social dialogue processes. The future development of the social dialogue, particularly at intersectoral level, was also the subject of debate at a "mini-summit" called by the Commission in early June 1998, which produced relatively little concrete progress.

• 28 Jun 1998
  EU Level: Commission adopts Annual Report on equal opportunities<#PDF_LINK>

  In May 1998, the European Commission adopted the secondAnnual Report on equal opportunities for women and men in the European Union. The report charts the developments in equal opportunities trends and policies across the Member States of the European Union.

• 28 Jun 1998
  EU Level: Commission issues maritime employment protection proposals<#PDF_LINK>

  At the end of April 1998, the European Commission launched two legislative proposals promoting the harmonisation of working conditions in the European maritime sector, in order to counter situations of unfair competition associated with the employment of workers who are not covered by minimum levels of social protection.

• 28 Jun 1998
  EU Level: Commission recommends adoption of homeworking Convention<#PDF_LINK>

  In May 1998, the European Commission called on all EU Member States to ratify the ILO Convention on homeworking, in order to improve the working conditions of these workers.

• 28 Jun 1998
  EU Level: NAPs and business transfers Directive among Council agenda items<#PDF_LINK>

  Meeting on 3-4 June 1998, EU Labour and Social Affairs Ministers - plus, on the second day, their colleagues from education ministries - discussed the National Action Plans for employment, in preparation for the Cardiff summit. The Council also reached political agreement on changes to the Directive on transfers of undertakings and on a Directive aimed at safeguarding the supplementary pension rights of workers moving within the EU.

• 28 May 1998
  EU Level: Health and safety seminar raises the issue of a gender perspective<#PDF_LINK>

  A seminar organised by the European Trade Union Confederation in May 1998 sought to highlight the fact that the hazards involved in jobs commonly done by women often go unrecognised, because the current concept of health and safety is still based on the model of male industrial workers and the hazards they face. The event also aimed to show that the sexual division of labour plays a part in hindering the development of a more effective approach to prevention and rehabilitation.

• 28 May 1998
  EU Level: Commission issues Communication on Social Action Programme 1998-2000<#PDF_LINK>

  In April 1998, the European Commission adopted a Communication on its Social Action Programme 1998-2000, which sets out the next steps for the future development of European social policy. This feature outlines the central themes of the Commission's proposed approach and examines what the Action Programme will bring to the social policy field.

• 28 May 1998
  EU Level: Progress on new forms of work organisation - a role for the social partners?<#PDF_LINK>

  In April 1997, with its Green Paper onPartnership for a new organisation of work, the European Commission launched an EU-wide consultation process on how to improve employment opportunities and competitiveness through a better organisation of work. This feature presents some of the results of the consultation process, including case studies highlighting good practice disseminated at a conference in April 1998, and considers the next steps to be taken in order to make this ideal a reality.

• 28 May 1998
  EU Level: High Level Group on industrial change presents interim report<#PDF_LINK>

  The EU's High Level Group on the Economic and Social Implications of Industrial Change presented its interim report in May 1998, prior to submitting it to the European Council meeting in Cardiff in June.

• 28 May 1998
  EU Level: National Action Plans for employment reviewed<#PDF_LINK>

  In May 1998, the European Commission adopted a Communication examining the National Action Plans on employment drawn up by the Member States in response to the EU Employment Guidelines 1998.

• 28 May 1998
  EU Level: ETUC response to UK Presidency's new European Company Statute proposal<#PDF_LINK>

  The UK Presidency of the EU launched a compromise proposal on the worker involvement provisions of the proposed European Company Statute in March 1998. The European Trade Union Confederation has given its response to the proposal and appears to be only marginally satisfied with its content.

• 28 Apr 1998
  EU Level: Social Affairs Council extends part-time work Directive to the UK<#PDF_LINK>

  In April 1998, the Labour and Social Affairs Council adopted a Directive to extend the December 1997 part-time work Directive to the UK. Other items discussed included the UK Presidency proposal on employee involvement in the European Company, and a tightening of the Directives on the protection of workers against asbestos.

• 28 Apr 1998
  EU Level: Commission launches second-phase consultations on sectors excluded from working time Directive<#PDF_LINK>

  In March 1998, the European Commission launched second-phase consultations with the social partners on working time in the sectors excluded from the 1993 working time Directive. This follows up consultations based on a White Paper published in July 1997.

• 28 Apr 1998
  EU Level: Commission targets undeclared work<#PDF_LINK>

  In April 1998, the European Commission adopted a Communication on undeclared work which encourages cooperation across the European Union and the formulation of joint policies based on examples of good practice in combating the "underground economy". This feature highlights the extent of the problem and outlines the Commission's approach.

• 28 Apr 1998
  EU Level: Negotiations on fixed-term contracts commence<#PDF_LINK>

  Following the decision by the central EU-level social partners to enter into negotiations on the rights of workers on fixed-term contracts, the parties outlined their priorities in an initial meeting on 23 March 1998. The second meeting took place on 21-22 April.

• 28 Apr 1998
  EU Level: Over 4,000 workers die in work-related accidents across EU<#PDF_LINK>

  Figures on accidents at work across the EU, published by Eurostat in March 1998, show a strong pattern in the distribution of fatal and non-fatal accidents by sector, gender and country. Male workers in agriculture, construction and road transport are most prone to suffer accidents at work, while workers in Portugal, Belgium, Spain and Italy are most at risk.

• 28 Mar 1998
  EU Level: Progress in the sectoral dialogue in the public services<#PDF_LINK>

  The actors, processes and outcomes of the sectoral social dialogue process at EU level are often overlooked in the light of the high level of attention accorded to the intersectoral social dialogue. However, the sectoral dialogue is increasingly gaining momentum as procedures become more established and better relationships are established between organisations. Here we examine the participants and outcomes of the sectoral social dialogue in the public services, a sector which employs a substantial section of the EU workforce. Progress has been made in particular in the dialogue between theEuropean Federation of Public Service Unions(EPSU) and theCouncil of European Municipalities and Regions(CEMR), with joint statements drawn up on employment and the modernisation of public services.

• 28 Mar 1998
  EU Level: European Works Councils: the experience so far<#PDF_LINK>

  Some three-and-a-half years after the adoption of the EU European Works Council (EWC) Directive, this feature summarises and assesses some of the main developments and experiences associated with EWCs in the Member States. It draws on the findings of recent research commissioned by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, as well as on discussions at a March 1998 European Trade Union Confederation workshop, where representatives from various trade union organisations discussed the operation of "Article 13" agreements and EWCs across a range of sectors.

• 28 Mar 1998
  EU Level: UNICE rejects negotiations on information and consultation<#PDF_LINK>

  In March 1998, a meeting of UNICE's council of presidents failed to produce a mandate for negotiations on national employee information and consultation within the framework of the Maastricht social policy Agreement. The European employers' organisation argued that dealing with this issue at European level would breach the principle of subsidiarity. ETUC is now calling on the European Commission to start drafting legislation on this issue.

• 28 Mar 1998
  EU Level: UK Presidency tables compromise proposal for European Company Statute<#PDF_LINK>

  In March 1998, the UK Presidency of the EU issued a new proposal aimed at reinvigorating the stalled negotiations on the aspects of the European Company Statute relating to employee involvement rights.

• 28 Mar 1998
  EU Level: ECJ rules on discrimination based on sexual orientation<#PDF_LINK>

  In February 1998, the European Court of Justice rejected a claim of sex discrimination by a female railway employee, whose lesbian partner was denied access to benefits open to partners of a different sex, on the basis that Community law currently does not cover discrimination based on sexual orientation.

• 28 Mar 1998
  EU Level: Finance ministers delay decision on reducing VAT on labour-intensive services<#PDF_LINK>

  EU finance ministers expressed doubts in February 1998 about the effectiveness and feasibility of operating a reduction of VAT on labour-intensive services, as proposed by the European Commission in the context of the November 1997 Luxembourg Jobs Summit. The dossier was returned to a group of experts for further examination.

• 28 Feb 1998
  EU Level: Social partners propose draft Directive on working time in the European maritime sector<#PDF_LINK>

  Workers in the maritime sector were among those excluded from the 1993 EU working time Directive. Since then, the European-level social partners in the sector have been negotiating on maximum working hours and rest periods, and an accord was signed in December 1997. The parties want the agreement to be made binding via a Council Directive. If adopted, this would be the first EU legislative measure ever to spring from the sectoral social dialogue, and may lead the way for other sectors currently excluded from the working time Directive.

• 28 Feb 1998
  EU Level: UNICE opens door to negotiations on rights of fixed-term contract workers<#PDF_LINK>

  In December 1997, the European employers' organisation, UNICE, declared its willingness to enter into negotiations with ETUC and CEEP - under the procedures of the Maastricht social policy Agreement - on the rights of workers on fixed-term contracts. This issue was excluded from the 1997 negotiations on part-time work at the request of UNICE, as different issues were seen to pertain to different forms of "atypical employment". We outline the chequered history of Commission attempts to legislate on temporary and fixed-term contracts - whose use has grown significantly across the EU during the 1990s - and examine current provisions in the Member States, as well as the positions of the EU social partners.

• 28 Feb 1998
  EU Level: Industrial relations in Poland: the emergence of a new model of labour relations?<#PDF_LINK>

  This feature reviews the transformation of the Polish economy in the 1990s and examines the linkages between the processes of privatisation and "marketisation" and the emergence of a new model of labour relations. In particular, it explores the role of trade unions in the transformation process, and the implications for the industrial relations system. Poland is one of the countries currently pursuing accession negotiations with the European Union.

• 28 Feb 1998
  EU Level: ETUC concerned about Commission proposal on free movement of goods<#PDF_LINK>

  In February 1997, the European Trade Union Confederation argued that a European Commission proposal on the free movement of goods, drawn up in response to the recent French lorry drivers' dispute, could infringe on the right to strike.

• 28 Feb 1998
  EU Level: Anniversary celebrations at ETUC and UNICE look to the future<#PDF_LINK>

  While ETUC celebrated its "silver" anniversary in February 1998, UNICE looked back on 40 years as the organisation representing employers' interests in the European Union. Both events looked to the future role of the respective organisations.

• 28 Feb 1998
  EU Level: Commission highlights importance of good quality childcare<#PDF_LINK>

  A report adopted in February 1998 by the European Commission outlines the progress made in the provision of childcare and leave arrangements which assist in the reconciliation of work and family life in the different Member States. The report points to continuing disparities in such provisions and the increasing importance of social partner initiatives in this area.

• 28 Feb 1998
  EU Level: EU/US symposium welcomes sectoral codes of conduct on labour standards<#PDF_LINK>

  A joint EU/US Symposium held in Brussels in February 1998 looked at measures which could be taken to safeguard basic international labour standards and human rights. The symposium highlighted examples of sectoral codes of conduct from the USA and the European Union.

• 28 Feb 1998
  EU Level: Council Presidency confirms the end of duty-free sales<#PDF_LINK>

  In February 1998, the EU Presidency confirmed the Council of Minister's decision, initially taken in 1991, to abolish intra-EU duty free sales, despite massive opposition from groups worried about the impact of such a move on employment.

• 28 Jan 1998
  EU Level: Big pay gap remains between men and women<#PDF_LINK>

  A December 1997 report from Eurostat shows a persistent discrepancy between the pay of men and women. The report, which covers four Member States, shows the highest pay differentials to be in the UK, followed by France, Spain and Sweden. The greatest pay inequalities are found in the higher income groups, the older age groups and among the most highly educated. Here, we present the report's findings, the European policy context on equal pay and equal opportunity, and an analysis of the reasons for pay differentials between men and women.

• 28 Jan 1998
  EU Level: ETUC calls for social clauses in trade agreements<#PDF_LINK>

  In December 1997, the executive committee of the European Trade Union Confederation adopted a resolution which calls for "social clauses" to be inserted into all European Union trade agreements. The abolition of forced and child labour, as well as the guaranteeing of minimum standards of working conditions at the international level are among the main preoccupations of such clauses. This issue has also been considered in the sectoral social dialogue, in the context of an increasing focus on ethical standards in trading.

• 28 Jan 1998
  EU Level: High-level expert group launched to discuss industrial change<#PDF_LINK>

  In line with the conclusions of the Luxembourg Employment Summit in November 1997, the European Commission launched a high-level expert group charged with analysing industrial change and its impact in January 1998. Members of the group were selected on the basis of their experience with large-scale industrial restructuring.

• 28 Jan 1998
  EU Level: ETUC launches proposals for new social Action Programme<#PDF_LINK>

  In December 1997, the European Trade Union Confederation launched its proposals for a new social policy Action Programme, calling for the integration of a social dimension into the EU's wider objectives.

• 28 Jan 1998
  EU Level: Social partners deliver their opinions on the Davignon report<#PDF_LINK>

  Following the publication of the findings of the expert group on worker involvement in the European Company, and the subsequent initiative by the Luxembourg Presidency on a new legislative proposal, the European social partners at intersectoral level delivered their opinions on these recommendations in late 1997. These show a continuing divergence of views on the form and scope of worker involvement in the European Company.

• 28 Jan 1998
  EU Level: European maritime social partners agree on working time aboard ships<#PDF_LINK>

  Workers in the maritime sector were among those excluded from the 1993 EU working time Directive. Since then, the European social partners in the sector have been negotiating on maximum working hours and rest periods, and an accord was signed in December 1997 which aims to set binding standards.

• 28 Jan 1998
  EU Level: Commissioner Flynn launches major new industrial relations database on the Web<#PDF_LINK>

  On 22 January 1998 in Brussels, Pádraig Flynn, the European Commissioner responsible for employment, social affairs and industrial relations, officially launchedEIROnline, the major new database on industrial relations in Europe.