Commission issues report on EU-level sectoral social dialogue

In July 2010, the European Commission issued a working document on the achievements and functioning of the sectoral social dialogue at EU level. Overall, since 1998, a total of 40 sectoral social dialogue committees have been created, covering 145 million workers around the EU. The document contains a full list of the sectors covered by these committees and the texts that have been negotiated. It also identifies possible improvements to the quality and scope of the dialogue process.

Results and achievements

The Commission staff working document (237Kb PDF), published by the Commission on 23 July 2010, shows that more than 500 texts have been produced as a result of sectoral social dialogue, including joint opinions and responses to consultations, autonomous agreements, and agreements that have been given legal force by means of a directive. The legally-binding texts are as follows:

• Council Directive 2010/32/EU (742Kb PDF) of 10 May 2010 implementing the framework agreement on prevention of sharps injuries in the hospital and healthcare sector, concluded by the European Hospital and Healthcare Employers’ Association (HOSPEEM) and the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) in July 2009;

• Council Directive 2009/13/EC (821Kb PDF) of 16 February 2009 implementing the agreement concluded by the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA) and the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) on the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, and amending Directive 1999/63/EC;

• Council Directive 1999/63/EC of 21 June 1999 concerning the agreement on the organisation of working time of seafarers, concluded by ECSA and the Federation of Transport Workers’ Unions in the European Union (currently ETF);

• Council Directive 2005/47/EC (41Kb PDF) of 18 July 2005 on the agreement between the Community of European Railways (CER) and ETF on certain aspects of the working conditions of mobile workers engaged in cross-border services;

• Council Directive 2000/79/EC of 27 November 2000 concerning the European Agreement on the Organisation of Working Time of Mobile Workers in Civil Aviation concluded by the Association of European Airlines (AEA), ETF, the European Cockpit Association (ECA), the European Regions Airline Association (ERA) and the International Air Carrier Association (IACA);

• An agreement (606Kb PDF) has also been reached between 14 industrial sectors on workers’ health protection through the good handling and use of crystalline silica and products containing it (signed on 25 April 2006).

The report notes that these texts have ‘contributed to modernising industrial relations and to adopting new social standards’.

Future progress

Despite these achievements, however, the report notes that there is still room for improvement. The Commission states that it intends to encourage the European and national sectoral social partners to make full use of their capacity to negotiate.

• The Commission wants improvements in the consultation and administrative capacity of the European social partners. It states the social partners must have the capacity to ensure that consultations are coordinated among their members and that they are able to deliver outcomes and contributions.

• Sectoral social partners may not yet have fully exploited the potential for sectoral negotiation, particularly in areas such as steel, telecommunications, chemicals and civil aviation, where there are big companies and the focus tends to be on dialogue at company level.

• The Commission wants to reinforce the coverage and representativeness of the sectoral social dialogue committees. It notes that it can be difficult to draw demarcation lines around these committees, although the Commission promotes, on an ad hoc basis, the creation of working groups for addressing sub-sectoral issues.

• Given the level of change and restructuring in sectors, new actors such as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) may be interested in entering social dialogue. Committees should encourage their involvement and ensure that their composition reflects any changes in economic and employment realities.

• Women still tend to be underrepresented in committee delegations, although some committees have already adopted texts and projects on gender equality.

• The Commission has been encouraging cooperation between sectors and notes that a significant breakthrough was made in 2006, when 14 industrial sectors concluded an autonomous multi-sectoral agreement on workers’ health protection through the good handling and use of crystalline silica and products containing it. It notes that developing this kind of cooperation could help promote EU employment and social policy objectives.

• Social partners need to invest in effective monitoring processes and to develop relevant indicators to improve implementation and evaluation of their agreed texts. The Commission also encourages better use of European funding, urging sectoral social partners to draw up relevant work programmes, agendas, working documents and contributions and to make the best use of the facilities provided by the Commission for the sectoral social dialogue.

Commentary

This report highlights the value of the sectoral social dialogue and the contribution it has made to the European social model over the past 12 years. The breadth and volume of the joint texts agreed since 1998 shows this clearly, both adding to the legal framework and reinforcing good practice in a range of employment and social policy issues. In addition to showcasing the achievements of the sectoral social dialogue, the report acknowledges that there is room for improvement in order to ensure that the sectoral social dialogue maintains momentum, adapts to change and increases its effectiveness.

Andrea Broughton, Institute for Employment Studies (IES)