EU Level developments
- 21 Dec 2006
EU Level: Eurobarometer survey on European employment and social policyAccording to an EU survey on ‘European employment and social policy’ published by the European Commission in November 2006, a large number of European citizens have a positive view of the EU’s role in employment issues and social affairs. The report also reveals that, while a vast majority of citizens underline the importance of qualifications and regular training in enhancing job security, only 24% of people have actually taken part in some form of training over the last 12 months. The main obstacles cited by respondents are financial restrictions and difficulties in balancing work and family responsibilities.
- 21 Dec 2006
EU Level: Agreement on worker participation in European financial services companyIn September 2006, the newly-formed European financial services company, Allianz SE, concluded an agreement on worker participation with the employee representatives and their trade unions. For the first time ever, a large company employing some 160,000 workers in virtually all EU Member States has expressly subscribed to a system of European management comprising significant mandatory worker participation.
- 12 Dec 2006
EU Level: Social partners debate ‘flexicurity’ at tripartite summitIn October 2006, the European social partners met to discuss the important topic of ‘flexicurity’ at an informal tripartite summit in Lahti in Finland. The summit was organised as a result of an invitation by the European Council to debate the issue of flexicurity. One of the key findings to emerge from the conference was how the main actors have different interpretations of what flexicurity means.
- 12 Dec 2006
EU Level: European Court rulings on working time reinforce right to annual leave and breaksIn 2006, the European Court of Justice delivered a number of key decisions in relation to the interpretation of Council Directive 93/104/EC on working time. Specifically, the rulings underline workers’ essential right to annual leave, and the obligation on Member States to ensure that workers’ right to benefit from rest breaks is observed.
- 07 Dec 2006
EU Level: EU-level initiatives in restructuring processes in automotive sectorIn April 2006, Peugeot announced the closure of its plant at Ryton in the UK. Subsequently, in June 2006, the management at General Motors Europe confirmed its decision to close the Azambuja plant in Portugal. Both the European Works Council and the European Metalworkers’ Federation were involved in the restructuring processes in different ways.
- 27 Nov 2006
EU Level: European social partners welcome accession of Bulgaria and Romania to EUA monitoring report from the European Commission has outlined Bulgaria and Romania’s readiness for EU membership; the report confirms that each country has taken further steps to complete their preparations for membership, demonstrating their capacity to apply EU principles and legislation from 1 January 2007. Both the European Trade Union Confederation and the Union of Industrial and Employers’ Confederations of Europe welcome the decision of the Commission to allow Bulgaria and Romania to join the EU on 1 January 2007, while also drawing attention to the further progress required in the area of social dialogue and law enforcement.
- 20 Nov 2006
EU Level: Report on mobility highlights economic benefits of migrant labourA recent report by the European Citizen Action Service reveals some interesting developments in relation to worker mobility following enlargement of the European Union in 2004. In addition to challenging some of the myths and fears associated with migration, the report outlines a number of recommendations relating to the free movement and residency of EU citizens.
- 30 Oct 2006
EU Level: European Commission sets out new cohesion policyIn an attempt to support the European Employment Strategy, the European Commission has set out clear funding guidelines for the 2007–2013 cohesion programme. These guidelines specify the parameters within which Member States should work when drawing up and submitting their National Strategic Reference Frameworks.
- 19 Sep 2006
EU Level: Role of social partners in integrating migrant workersThe workplace is one of the key locations for the integration of new migrants, thus creating a particular role for the social partners. A hearing of the European Economic and Social Committee in late June 2006 received evidence that systematic discrimination against migrant workers does take place. However, the hearing also heard reports of positive experiences and practices that could be introduced in all workplaces. The meeting concluded that EU-level social partners can play a key role in the integration process of migrants.
- 12 Sep 2006
EU Level: Social dialogue committee for steel industry at European levelThe European Metalworkers’ Federation and the Confederation of Iron Steel Industries have set up a European social dialogue committee in the steel industry. Its establishment comes three years after the European Coal and Steel Community ceased to exist. The committee aims to monitor the impact of European Union social policy on the steel industry and changes within the industry, as well as to develop common positions.
- 07 Sep 2006
EU Level: ETUC presents memorandum to Finnish EU PresidencyIn June 2006, a delegation of trade union leaders presented a memorandum to the incoming Finnish Presidency of the European Union. The key demands outlined in the memorandum relate to three priority areas: social Europe, the social dimension of the internal market and trade and external relations. The trade unions are asking for a debate on such issues as ‘flexicurity’, the future of labour law and the working time directive.
- 01 Sep 2006
EU Level: Social partners present work programme 2006-2008The European social partners have presented their second joint multi-annual work programme, in which they outline their key aims for 2006–2008. During this period, they plan to undertake the following: continue policies and actions developed under the first work programme; monitor existing framework agreements and frameworks of action; start new negotiations; and deal with new issues of core interest for the cross-sector social partners. The programme aims to reinforce autonomy in social dialogue.
- 01 Sep 2006
EU Level: First European multi-sector agreement on workers’ health protectionIn April 2006, members of the multi-sectoral Negotiation Platform on Silica (NePSi) signed a European multi-sector ‘Agreement on workers’ health protection through the good handling and use of crystalline silica and products containing it’. The agreement covers more than two million workers in different sectors of the economy across Europe and aims to reduce workers’ exposure to crystalline silica dust by promoting good practice measures in the workplace.
- 01 Sep 2006
EU Level: European social partners evaluate lifelong learning over four yearsThe evaluation report of the European social partners on lifelong learning highlights the achievements and contribution of the framework of actions for the lifelong development of competencies and qualifications.
- 01 Sep 2006
EU Level: Union membership and density levels in declineTrade union density rates, which in the 1970s increased in most developed industrial economies, are now declining, according to a recent analysis. At the same time, union membership levels are particularly low among young workers, while a greater proportion of union members currently consist of retired workers. Meanwhile, the proportion of female union members has now surpassed that of male union members in a number of EU Member States.
- 01 Sep 2006
EU Level: European alliance for corporate social responsibilityThrough its backing of the European Alliance for Corporate Social Responsibility, the European Commission aims to encourage enterprises to commit to social measures aimed at addressing the challenges of globalisation. This involves signing up to an agenda covering economic, social and environmental challenges.
- 01 Sep 2006
EU Level: Equal opportunities in the spotlight in 2007In June 2006, preparations began for an important year for Europe, following the decision by the European Council and Parliament to designate 2007 as 'European year of equal opportunities for all'. The aim is to promote equal opportunities in all spheres, with work and workplace relations being a key focus of the initiative. The social partners will play an important role in this regard and there will be funding available to promote locally-based activities. The 2007 European year of equal opportunities will focus on discrimination linked to gender, race or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation.
- 28 Jun 2006
EU Level: Global framework agreement signed at PSA Peugeot CitroënIn March 2006, the French-based car manufacturer, PSA Peugeot Citroën, along with the International Metalworkers’ Federation and the European Metalworkers’ Federation, concluded a global framework agreement. This agreement requires the company to adhere to various International Labour Organisation conventions and to develop its human resources.
- 28 Jun 2006
EU Level: Landmark case highlights issue of conflicting rightsFree movement of organisations is a fundamental principle of the European Union. A case currently before the European Court of Justice addresses the relationship between the rights of organisations to free movement and the rights of workers to take collective action – an issue on which the social partners take differing positions.
- 23 Feb 2006
EU Level: Commission issues report on worker mobility in the enlarged EUIn February 2006, the European Commission published a report on the free movement of workers in the EU since enlargement in 2004, and on the administrative, legal and technical issues related to the imposition of transitional restrictions on worker mobility from the new Member States by many oldMember States. Its main finding is that the free movement of workers has had a positive impact, although some countries may also have experienced higher levels of undeclared work.
- 20 Feb 2006
EU Level: Key EU industrial relations initiatives in prospectA number of important EU-level industrial relations initiatives are scheduled for 2006. These include the European Commission’s response to consultations with the social partners over handling restructuring and developing the role of EWCs, as well as new proposals on labour law reform, transnational collective bargaining and consolidating the EU’s information and consultation provisions
- 20 Feb 2006
EU Level: Building social dialogue in the live performance sectorThe EU-level social partners in the live performance sector are holding a series of joint seminars with colleagues from the new EU Member States, aimed at fostering the social dialogue process in these countries. The first two seminars were held in Estonia in October 2005 and Hungary in January 2006, and a third will be held in Poland in March 2006.
- 06 Feb 2006
EU Level: Austrian Presidency holds informal social CouncilIn January 2006, employment and social affairs ministers met in Villach, Austria, for an informal employment and social affairs Council. The Council discussed flexibility and security, and also debated how to strengthen the social dimension of the EU.
- 06 Feb 2006
EU Level: Accord on reduction of work-related musculo-skeletal disorders in agricultureIn November 2005, the representatives of the European social partners in agriculture concluded an agreement on the reduction of work-related musculo-skeletal disorders in their sector.
- 25 Jan 2006
EU Level: Austrian and Finnish Presidencies set out social policy prioritiesIn late December 2005, the Austrian and Finnish governments issued a joint document listing their policy priorities for their EU Presidencies in the first and second halves of 2006 respectively. In the area of employment and social policy, specific measures include progressing the revision of the working time Directive, possible work on the draft temporary agency work Directive and a continuing focus on the Lisbon strategy for growth and jobs.
- 25 Jan 2006
EU Level: Commission launches measures to help inclusion of people with disabilitiesIn early December 2005, the European Day of Disabled People was marked by an EU conference on Living together in society. The European Commission used this opportunity to put forward concrete measures designed to improve the lives of people with disabilities in the EU and to present a new Communication on the situation of disabled people in the enlarged Union.
- 25 Jan 2006
EU Level: Commission issues policy plan on legal migrationIn December 2005, the European Commission issued a new policy plan on legal migration to the EU. The plan sets out the Commission’s future policy intentions on this issue in the areas of legislative proposals, non-legislative tools, the integration of immigrants and enhanced cooperation with countries of origin.
- 25 Jan 2006
EU Level: Worldwide CSR agreement signed at ArcelorIn September 2005, the Luxembourg-based steel multinational, Arcelor, concluded a worldwide agreement on corporate social responsibility (CSR) with international trade union organisations. The agreement - the first such accord in the steel sector - covers fundamental social rights, health and safety, the environment, social dialogue, communication and the management of industrial and economic change.
- 11 Jan 2006
EU Level: New EU industrial relations dictionaryAt the end of November 2005, the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions launched a new European industrial relations dictionary, which aims to provide a clear insight into the workings of industrial relations at European level.
- 10 Jan 2006
EU Level: 2006 is European Year of workers’ mobility2006 has been designated as European Year of workers’ mobility as part of a drive to encourage employment mobility within the EU. The European Commission launched, in December 2005, a website containing all relevant information on mobility and EU mobility events and actions over the coming year.