----

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on Employment support measures

(2004/C 110/22)

On 17 July 2003, the European Economic and Social Committee decided to draw up an opinion, in accordance with Rule 29(2) of its Rules of Procedure, on Employment support measures.

The Section for Employment, Social Affairs and Citizenship, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on this subject, adopted its opinion on 4 February 2004. The rapporteur was Mrs Hornung-Draus. The co-rapporteur was Mr Greif.

At its 406th plenary session, held on 25 and 26 February 2004 (meeting of 26 February), the European Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 102 votes to 10 with 11 abstentions:

1.   Summary and overall appraisal

The EESC welcomes the report of the Employment Taskforce, chaired by Wim Kok, which has succeeded in presenting a largely balanced analysis of the current challenges facing employment policy. The report graphically demonstrates to the Member States the pressing need for reform.

2.   Introduction

Measures for promoting employment

3.   Increasing adaptability

4.   Making the labour market more attractive to a larger number of people

5.   Investment in human capital

Brussels, 26 February 2004.

The President

of the European Economic and Social Committee

Roger BRIESCH

----

(1)  EESC opinion on the European Employment Strategy (OJ C 133, 6.6.2003)

(2)  EESC opinion on the Proposal for a Council Decision on guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States OJ C 208 of 3.9.2003

(3)  EESC opinion on the Broad economic policy guidelines for 2003 (OJ C 133 of 6.6.2003); see also the EESC opinion on Economic governance in the EU (OJ C 85 of 8.4.2003) and the EESC opinion on Broad economic policy guidelines of 11.12.2003

(4)  EESC Information Report on Coping with globalisation EESC opinion entitled ‘For a WTO with a human face: the EESC's proposals’ (OJ C 133, 6.6.2003); opinion on the preparation of the Fifth WTO Ministerial Conference (OJ No. C 234 of 30.9.2003)

(5)  EESC opinion on the European Employment Strategy (EES), OJ C 133, 6.6.2003; EESC opinion on Employment policy guidelines, OJ C 208, 3.9.2003

(6)  EESC opinion on the employment policy guidelines (OJ C 208, 3.9.2003)

(7)  See, amongst others, the following EESC documents: REX/130 – 2003 – Vocational training and lifelong learning and their impact on employment in Estonia; REX/148 – 2003 – Joint declaration; REX/087 – 2002 – The situation of the small and medium-sized enterprises in Hungary compared to the SME policy of the EU

(8)  EESC opinion of 20.3.2002 on the Green Paper entitled ‘Promoting a European framework for corporate social responsibility’ (OJ C 125 of 27.5.2002)

(9)  EESC opinion on the Green Paper on Entrepreneurship in Europe

(10)  European Charter for Small Enterprises, June 2000; EESC opinion on a European Charter for Small Enterprises, OJ C 204, 18.7.2002

(11)  See the EESC opinion on the social economy and the single market (OJ C 117 of 26.4.2000)

(12)  EESC opinion on the European Employment Strategy (OJ C 133 of 6.6.2003)

(13)  Orientations for reference in managing change and its social consequences – 16.10.2003, UNICE, ETUC, CEEP, UEAPME

(14)  EESC Opinion on the European Commission White Paper entitled ‘A new impetus for European youth’ (OJ C 149 of 21.6.2002); EESC Opinion on the White Paper on Youth Policy (OJ C 116 of 20.4.2001)

(15)  Council Decision on guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States (2003/578/EC)

(16)  European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions document entitled ‘Combating age barriers in employment’; in this context see also the EESC opinion on Older workers (OJ C 14 of 16.1.2001

(17)  EESC opinion of 20.3.2002 on the Green Paper entitled ‘Promoting a European framework for corporate social responsibility’ (OJ C 125 of 27.5.2002)

(18)  See the EESC opinion of 10.12.2003 on the Communication from the Commission on immigration, integration and employment (SOC/138)

(19)  See, amongst others, the EESC opinions on the following subjects: The European dimension of education: its nature, content and prospects (OJ C 139, 11.5.2001); Lifelong learning (OJ C 311, 7.11.2001); European benchmarks in education and training (OJ C 133, 6.6.2003); the eLearning Action Plan – Designing tomorrow's education (OJ C 36, 8.2.2002); and the eLearning Programme (OJ C 133, 6.6.2003)

(20)  See, especially, the EESC opinion on the European Dimension of Education: its nature, content and prospects (OJ C 139, 11.5.2001)

(21)  Communiqué of the Conference of Ministers responsible for Higher Education in Berlin on 19 September 2003

(22)  Opinion of the EESC on lifelong learning (OJ C 311, 7.11.2001)

(23)  Framework of Actions for the Lifelong Development of Competences and Qualifications, published on 14.3.2002

----

APPENDIX

to the Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee

Rejected amendment

The following amendment, which was supported by a quarter of the votes cast, was rejected in the course of the debate.

Point 3.5, third bullet point

‘promoting and consolidating flexible forms of employment, such as temporary work, which may, if workers so wish, serve as a springboard for providing access to lasting employment; in this context, equal treatment and worker protection provisions should also be respected. It is also important to promote innovative forms of organising employment (e.g. teleworking). New forms of flexibility on the labour market should go hand in hand with new forms of security. In this context, the social partners have a very important role to play in establishing the appropriate general conditions, inter alia in respect of collective bargaining policy;’

Delete the first two sentences and change the following two sentences so that the text reads as follows:

‘New forms of flexibility on the labour market should go hand in hand with new forms of security. The general conditions for this should be established by the social partners through collective bargaining.’

Reason

The statement to promote temporary work cannot be an acceptable policy. There are situations where such forms of employment are necessary but the promotion should be for lasting employment. Flexible forms should be considered an exception to this. The rules for flexible employment should always be a question for the social partners.

Voting:

For: 53, against: 67, abstentions: 4.

----