On 17 September 2003, the Committee of European Union Shipbuilders’ Associations (CESA), for employers, and the European Metalworkers’ Federation (EMF), for employees, officially commenced a European-level social dialogue, within the framework of a sectoral social dialogue committee set up under the auspices of the European Commission.
In September 2003, shipbuilding became the latest sector to launch a formal social dialogue at European level, with the creation of a dialogue committee under the auspices of the European Commission. The social partners in this industry hope to examine a range of issues within this framework, including employment, restructuring, competitiveness and lifelong learning.
On 17 September 2003, the Committee of European Union Shipbuilders’ Associations (CESA), for employers, and the European Metalworkers’ Federation (EMF), for employees, officially commenced a European-level social dialogue, within the framework of a sectoral social dialogue committee set up under the auspices of the European Commission.
The EU sectoral social dialogue process, which dates back in various forms to the 1960s, was overhauled in 1998 by the European Commission on the basis of a Communication on Adapting and promoting the social dialogue at Community level (COM (98) 322) ( EU9806110F). This led to the adoption in May 1998 of a Commission Decision setting up 'sectoral dialogue committees promoting the dialogue between the social partners at European level'. These sectoral dialogue committees replaced the joint committees and informal working groups which were the previous structures for the sectoral social dialogue ( EU9902150F). Since then, the new committees have been set up in some 30 sectors and are currently engaged in social dialogue producing a variety of results, including joint opinions, texts, codes of practice and agreements on a range of issues ( EU0201236F). More recently, the Commission outlined further changes to the dialogue in a Communication on The European social dialogue, a force for innovation and change (COM(2002)341 final), issued in June 2002 ( EU0208203F).
EMF has, for a number of years, been keen to begin social dialogue within this framework in the various sectors which it covers, but has consistently come up against employers’ reluctance to engage in dialogue at this level. For EMF, therefore, the establishment of a social dialogue committee in the shipbuilding sector - the first within EMF's sphere of activity - represents a significant step forward. EMF has praised CESA’s willingness to engage in social dialogue: 'EMF welcomes the open and fair behaviour of the European shipbuilders’ association in developing a dynamic and result-oriented social dialogue. EMF feels committed to a strong and sustainable shipbuilding industry with its high-tech profile and its strategic orientations. We are committed to common success.'
EMF has stated that it hopes to focus in the shipbuilding social dialogue on issues such as industrial development and employment, restructuring and competitiveness, lifelong learning and sustainability. It maintains that 'labour conditions are an integral part of our common challenge. The work of the sectoral social dialogue committee will contribute to the sustainability of the shipbuilding sector all over Europe, supporting competitiveness and a high degree of employment with high quality jobs.'
Eurofound recommends citing this publication in the following way.
Eurofound (2003), European social dialogue launched in shipbuilding, article.
