CEEMET

The Council of European Employers of the Metal, Engineering and Technology-Based Industries (CEEMET) is the European employer organisation representing the interests of the metal, engineering and technology-based industries. It has a particular focus on social policy and industrial relations issues. CEEMET was created in 1962 as the Western European Metal Trades Employers’ Organisation (WEM) and was renamed CEEMET in 2004.

CEEMET’s member federations represent around 200,000 businesses across Europe, the majority of which are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). CEEMET members are active in a large number of sectors, including basic metals, fabricated metal goods, machinery and equipment, office machinery and computers, radio, television and communication equipment, medical, precision and optical instruments, watches and clocks, motor vehicles and trailers, and transport. Some of its member federations are also active in the iron and steel industries.

CEEMET says its mission is to:

...represent, promote and defend the social policy-related interests of the employers in the metal, engineering and technology-based industries on the European level, working together with all stakeholders to create and maintain a sustainable and competitive environment for European industry.

Its core objectives are:

• to promote the exchange of information among its members on all social issues which directly affect the interests of the metal, engineering and technology-based industries;
• to coordinate views and opinions on social policy and industrial relations issues of concern to the members, and organise and implement the initiatives and actions of the members at European level;
• to issue statements and position papers on matters of common interest.

CEEMET is based in Brussels and is a recognised consultation body and discussion partner for the European Union institutions. In terms of European social dialogue, CEEMET and the European Metalworkers Federation (EMF) – now part of IndustriAll Europe – began their talks informally in 2001. In January 2010, a formal sectoral social dialogue committee for the metalworking sector was created.

A first plenary meeting of the social dialogue committee took place on 2 December 2010. At this plenary, the social dialogue committee adopted two joint statements – on Competitiveness and Employment in a Globalised Economy (97Kb PDF) and on Education and Training (134Kb PDF). The social dialogue committee’s priorities for 2011–2012 are contained in its work programme 2011–2012 (16Kb PDF) and focus on research and innovation, managing an ageing workforce, adaptability, and flexible, atypical work and precarious forms of work.

The sectoral social dialogue committee meets in plenary form once a year, and is co-chaired by a representative from CEEMET and the unions. Within the social dialogue committee, two working groups have been established. The working group on competitiveness and employment in a globalised economy meets once a year, while an education and training working group meets twice per year.

See also: European collective agreements; European framework agreement; European sectoral employer federations; European sectoral social dialogue; International Framework Agreement, Trade unions; Transnational company agreement.