The Commission has
recently issued a social policy agenda in which it details its objectives and
proposed actions over the next five years. The agenda includes a range of
proposed actions and commitments to progress existing proposals in areas such as
adapting to the new work environment, strengthening gender equality, fundamental
rights and combating discrimination. Emphasis is also put firmly on the value of
social partner negotiations, with the Commission encouraging talks in a range of
fields. In this feature, we review the main areas outlined in the Commission's
agenda.
The Commission issued its social policy
agenda proposals on 28 June 2000 in the form of a Communication to the Council,
the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of
the Regions (COM(2000) 379 final). The Commission makes it clear that this
document follows on from the discussions concerning employment and information
technology which took place at the Lisbon summit, held in March 2000. The Commission states that it seeks to
"ensure the positive and dynamic interaction of economic, employment and social
policy, and to forge a political agreement which mobilises all key actors to
work jointly towards the new strategic goal." Most specifically, it hopes to
modernise the European social model and to convert the political commitments
made at the Lisbon summit into action.
It lists its objectives in a number of areas and follows this
by proposing a range of actions, taking the form either of new initiatives or
commitments to progress existing proposals. The areas outlined are as follows:
full employment and quality of work - more and better
jobs, adapting to the new working environment, the knowledge-based economy and
promoting mobility;
quality of social policy - modernising and improving
social protection, promoting social inclusion and gender equality, reinforcing
fundamental rights and combating discrimination;
promoting equality in industrial relations;
preparing for enlargement; and
promoting international cooperation.
Full employment and quality of work
Towards more and better jobs
The Commission defines the objective in this area as raising
the employment rate in Europe to as close as possible to 70% by 2010 (from 62%
in 1999) and increasing the proportion of women in work to over 60% by 2020
(from the current figure of around 50%). It lists a number of action points
necessary in order to achieve this, including the following:
to propose, during 2000, a decision on Community
incentive measures in the field of employment, based on Article 129 of the
Treaty;
to invite, during 2000, the social partners to
contribute to and cooperate more systematically with the European employment
strategy and to develop dialogue and negotiations "at all relevant levels", and
in particular in the area of lifelong learning; and
to undertake a review and assessment of the impact of
the Luxembourg process in 2002.
Anticipating and managing change and adapting to the new
working environment
This is an area where the Commission is proposing a wide range
of actions over the coming five years. It states its objective as developing a
"positive and proactive approach" to change by informing both companies and
employees of both the employment and the social consequences of integration
measures such as mergers and acquisitions. In addition, working conditions and
contractual relations need to be adapted to the new economy, whilst ensuring
that the appropriate balance is maintained between flexibility and security. It
lists a wide range of actions intended to achieve this, including the
following:
to launch a consultation of the social partners on
modernising and improving employment relations. This has in fact already taken
place - the Commission's consultation paper was issued to the social partners
on 26 June 2000 (this issue p.3);
to follow up, in 2001, the forthcoming social partner
negotiations on temporary work. Negotiations will open this year following the
private sector employers' organisation (UNICE) decision on 3 May 2000 to enter
into social partner talks at European level on this issue.
Although the Commission is not explicit in what constitutes a follow-up, it is
likely to be the issuing of a proposal to give legal effect to any agreement
negotiated by the social partners on this subject;
to consult the social partners - date not specified -
on the need to establish, at European level, voluntary mechanisms on mediation,
arbitration and conciliation for conflict resolution. This will certainly be an
interesting exercise, as the views of the social partners in this area are
likely to differ substantially and this subject has never before been addressed
at European level;
to complete and codify, in 2002, Community legislation on
working time. This presumably refers to the 1993 Directive on the organisation
of working time and its recent extension to previously excluded sectors and
activities by means of four separate proposals. At the present moment, the
proposal relating to mobile workers in road transport remains outstanding,
although the Commission is trying to progress it (this issue p.2);
to adopt the proposals relating to the European Company
Statute and the information and consultation of employees at national level;
to codify and simplify health and safety legislation
and to adopt a Communication on Community strategy relating to health and safety
at work, both in 2002;
to launch a Communication and action plan on the
financial participation of workers in 2001; and
to invite the social partners to pursue negotiations
and collective bargaining "where appropriate" on issues related to work
organisation and new forms of work and to begin discussions which might lead to
negotiations on "the shared responsibility between business and employees
regarding the employability and adaptability of the workforce, in particular
with regard to occupational mobility".
Exploiting the opportunities of the knowledge-based economy
Following on directly from the conclusions of the Lisbon
summit, the stated aim in this area is to accelerate the development of the
knowledge-based economy in order to create more jobs in Europe. The most
concrete proposal here is to invite the social partners to focus their
discussions on lifelong learning and new forms of work which are related to
information technology.
Promoting mobility
The Commission wishes to remove all obstacles to geographical
mobility in order to ensure the free movement of workers in the Community. It
also states that it will monitor the application of Community rules on free
movement of workers and develop mechanisms to facilitate mobility, including
the use of new technologies. Proposed action includes the following:
to adopt existing proposals on the simplification and
extension of Regulation 1408/71 on social security for migrant workers and
Regulation 1612/68 on freedom of movement for workers;
to create a pensions forum in 2000 which will address
the issue of supplementary pensions and mobility. After discussion in the forum,
the Commission intends to propose, in 2002, an instrument on transferability of
supplementary pensions; and
to issue a Communication in 2002 regarding problems
related to free movement in the public service and to undertake "specific
actions" to encourage the mobility of researchers, students, trainees, teachers
and trainers.
Quality of social policy
Modernising and improving social protection
The Commission's stated aim here is to modernise and improve
social protection in the Community in response to a number of factors,
including the development of the knowledge economy and changes in social and
family structures. The emphasis is placed on improving cooperation between
member states and enlisting the help and involvement of all relevant actors,
including the social partners, non-governmental organisations and social
protection institutions. Concrete proposals for action include the following:
to issue a Communication in 2000 on the future of
social protection in the medium and long term, with particular reference to
pensions;
to establish a social protection committee and support
its work by helping to develop objectives, indicators and the exchange of good
practice;
to prepare a joint Commission/Council annual social
protection report; and
to develop cooperation with Community institutions,
social partners and social protection institutions in order to devise an agenda
for modernisation. The social partners should be invited to develop and discuss
their contribution to the modernisation and improvement of social protection.
Promoting social inclusion
The Commission aims to prevent and eradicate poverty and
exclusion and to promote the integration and participation of everybody in
economic and social life. Concrete action points in this area include:
to launch a consultation of all relevant actors on the
best ways to promote the integration of people who are excluded from the labour
market;
to issue an annual report on inclusion policy; and
to evaluate, in 2003, the impact of the European Social
Fund, including the Community initiative Equal.
Promoting gender equality
This is an area where a number of concrete proposals are made.
The Commission's aim is to promote the full participation of women in
"economic, scientific, social, political and civic life". It cites the issue of
violence against women as a key area to be addressed. Action points include the
following:
to implement the Community framework strategy and
specific programme on gender equality and to further strengthen
equality rights by making full use of the Treaty - particular reference is made
to a proposal in 2002 for an equal treatment Directive based on Article 13 in
areas other than employment and occupation. This intention was also contained in
the Commission's specific equality programme;
to adopt the proposal for a Directive modifying the
1976 equal treatment Directive, issued on 7 June 2000; and
to invite the social partners to strengthen their
social dialogue, particularly in the areas of: equal pay, gender desegregation
of the labour market, and reconciliation of family and working life.
Reinforcing fundamental rights and combating discrimination
The Commission's stated objective in these
two areas is to ensure the development and respect of fundamental social rights
"as a key component of an equitable society" and of respect for human dignity.
It notes that future action, in particular the adoption of the proposed European
charter of fundamental rights, will build upon the recently-adopted Directive on
equal treatment irrespective of racial and ethnic origin. It proposes a number of action points,
including the following:
to adopt the proposed Directive banning discrimination
in employment on grounds of racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief,
disability, age or sexual orientation. This Directive was proposed in November
1999 as part of a package of anti-discrimination
measures, of which the Directive concentrating exclusively on race
discrimination has now been adopted;
to adopt and implement the proposed action programme to
combat discrimination, issued as part of the anti-discrimination package in
November 1999;
to issue a report in 2001 on the functioning of the
monitoring centre on racism and xenophobia;
to propose that 2003 should be the European year on
disability and to organise an annual European day on disability; and
to launch in 2001 a consultation of the social partners
on the issue of data protection and to invite the social partners to contribute
to the eradication of discrimination in the workplace.
Promoting equality in industrial relations
This section focuses on the social dialogue, with the objective
of ensuring that it makes an effective contribution at all levels to the
challenges identified. A number of suggestions for action relate to the review,
improvement and better coordination of existing structures. Key action points
include the following:
to consult the social partners in 2001 at European
level in order to identify areas of common interest, including those which offer
the best possibility for collective bargaining;
to monitor and update the study on the
representativeness of the social partners at European level;
to launch in 2000 a reflection group on the future of
industrial relations;
to promote the interaction between European-level and
national-level social dialogue by organising round tables on issues of common
interest, such as work organisation, the future of work and new forms of work;
and
to organise a conference in 2002 to review with the
social partners the functioning of the social dialogue structures at both
cross-industry and sectoral levels and propose adaptations if necessary.
Preparing for enlargement
The stated objective here is to prepare for the enlargement of
the Union "under conditions of balanced economic and social development".
Action points include:
to continue the monitoring of the implementation of the
EU acquis communautaire by applicant countries in the area of employment and
social policy;
to continue with employment policy reviews of all
candidate countries;
to support the strengthening of social dialogue and
social partner organisations in candidate countries;
to identify common issues and needs in the field of
social protection; and
to ensure that candidate countries participate in
Community social action programmes as part of the pre-accession strategy.
Promoting international cooperation
The aim here is stated as facilitating the exchange of
experience and good practice with international organisations such as the ILO,
the OECD and the Council of Europe. In particular, the Commission hopes to
strengthen the employment and social dimension of globalisation through the
respect of core labour standards and the promotion of an integrated economic
and social agenda. In particular, it proposes the following:
to recommend that EU member states ratify the ILO
Convention on child labour (no.182);
to organise a conference in 2001 on the social
dimension of EU external relations;
to support the debate on the respect of core labour
standards by means of a dialogue with international organisations such as the
ILO and the WTO; and
to develop Community cooperation with international
organisations in the field of employment, education and training, social
protection and fundamental social rights.
Monitoring the social policy agenda
The Commission plans to monitor and control social regulation
and proposes the creation of some new structures in order to effect this.
Firstly, it proposes the creation of a high-level group of member state
officials which will be briefed to work with the Commission on the
implementation and review of Community legislation and the facilitation of its
transposition. Particular areas cited are working conditions, equal treatment
between men and women and anti-discrimination. Secondly, it proposes the
development of a network of national labour inspectors in order to monitor the
implementation of Community legislation. This would be formed along the lines
of existing structures in the area of health and safety.
A mid-term review will be held in 2003.
Legislative
commitments
The Commission's social policy agenda makes a number of firm
commitments in terms of both the progression of existing outstanding
legislative proposals and the formulation of new proposals, as listed below.
By 2002, to complete and codify Community legislation
on working time.
To adopt the proposals relating to the European Company
Statute and the national-level information and consultation of workers.
To codify and simplify existing Community health and
safety legislation.
To adopt the proposals relating to Regulation 1408/71
on social security for migrant workers and Regulation 1612/68 on freedom of
movement for workers.
In 2002, to propose an instrument on the
transferability of supplementary pensions.
To issue a proposal in 2002 for an equal treatment
Directive based on Article 13 in areas other than employment and occupation.
To adopt the proposal modifying the 1976 equal
treatment Directive.
To adopt the Directive outlawing discrimination based
on race or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual
orientation.
Involvement of the social partners
The social policy agenda strengthens, supports and encourages
the role of the social partners in a wide variety of areas. Thus, the coming
five years are likely to see increased social partner negotiations on a number
of issues. Key areas for action identified by the Commission are listed below.
To invite the social partners in 2000 to contribute
more fully to the European employment strategy and to develop dialogue and
negotiations, particularly in the area of lifelong learning.
To launch a consultation of the social partners on
modernising and improving employment relations. The first stage of this
consultation was launched on 26 June 2000.
To consult with the social partners on the need to
establish at European level voluntary mechanisms on mediation, arbitration and
conciliation for conflict resolution.
To invite the social partners to pursue negotiations
and collective bargaining on issues related to work organisation, new forms of
work, adaptability and employability and occupational mobility in particular.
To invite the social partners to focus discussions on
lifelong learning and new forms of work which are specifically related to
information technology.
To invite the social partners to discuss and develop
their contribution to the modernisation and improvement of social protection.
To invite the social partners to strengthen their
social dialogue in the areas of equal pay, gender desegregation of the labour
market and the reconciliation of family and working life.
To consult the social partners in 2001 on data
protection.
To invite the social partners to contribute to the
eradication of discrimination in the workplace.
To consult the social partners in 2001 on general areas
of common interest within the framework of promoting equality in industrial
relations and ensuring that the social dialogue is effective.
