OPINION OF THE ECSC CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE on the draft Decision of the Commission concerning the social aspects of the restructuring of the iron and steel industry (adopted unanimously, with three abstensions, at the 201st session of 6 July 1979)

THE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE,

- in consideration of the draft Decision of the Commission relating to the creation of special temporary allowances to help workers in the iron and steel industry in the framework of the

Community restructuring plan (COM(79) 199 final),

- on the basis of reports from the Subcommittee for Labour Problems,

1. assumes that:

(a) the restructuring of the steel industry in the EEC is aimed at restoring the competitivity of the undertakings, in order to retain the greatest possible number of jobs;

(b) the restructuring programme must be accompanied by supporting social measures in order to avoid as far as possible hardship for the employees affected by restructuring;

(c) in so far as these measures exceed the permanent provisions laid down under Article 56 of the Treaty, their application must be limited in time;

2. with these aims in view, is of the opinion that:

(a) the measures proposed by the Commission to extend the application of Article 56 of the ECSC Treaty should be welcomed;

(b) the Commission's proposal of early retirement for employees could be a suitable measure, provided that it applies not only to workers in the iron and steel industry who have been made redundant, but also to those workers whose early retirement is calculated to facilitate job transfers, as well as to workers threatened with dismissal in undertakings outside the iron and steel industry whose activities are directly interlinked with those of the iron and steel industry;

(c) in the context of early retirement resulting from restructuring measures, the Commission on the other hand must also have the possibility of granting non-refundable aid in the form of a supplement to the benefits normally granted in a Member Country, for example in cases where there is only a slight difference between the early retirement pension and the unemployment benefit;

(d) the aid to be considered in this context should also be granted for the social measures linked with restructuring which have been introduced since 1 January 1978:

3. on the other hand, is of the opinion that the other provisions of the draft Decision concerning possible changes in working conditions and reductions in working time must be re-examined to ensure that it is clear that:

(a) their field of application does not affect the social partners'independence in decision-making;

(b) it is important in the present situation that any change in working conditions or reduction in working time should have a positive effect on employment without adversely affecting the competitivity of undertakings, either at the time of their application or in the long term;

4. welcomed the Commission's statement that it intended to extend the field of application of the provisions for changes in working conditions and working time giving entitlement to Community aid by taking into account the above remarks.

5. states that the Commission must have adequate funds at its disposal and that such funds must be obtained outside the framework of Article 49 of the Treaty referring to levies on ECSC products.