A4-0381/98

Resolution on the Commission communication on a social action programme 1998 - 2000 (COM(98)0259 - C4-0343/98)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission's communication (COM(98)0259 - C4-0343/98),

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs and the opinion of the Committe on Women's Rights (A4-0381/98),

A. whereas a proposal setting out a framework and contents for a new social action programme was put forward in a working document ((PE 225.481/rev.)) subsequently adopted by the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs at its meeting of 27-28 April 1998,

B. whereas the Commission, in drawing up its new social action programme, has taken account of the proposals put forward in that working document,

C. whereas, however, some important issues remain outside the scope of, or inadequately covered by, the Commission's social action programme,

1. Welcomes and approves, with certain reservations, the Commission's new social action programme;

2. Is disappointed that the Commission is increasingly resorting to the use of regulatory instruments that are not legally enforceable (soft law); takes the view that, in areas such as the organisation of work, workers' individual and collective rights and social measures regulating the free-market economy, rules should continue to take the form of directives; calls on the Commission to evaluate and strengthen the current legislative framework;

3. Believes that to improve the new social action programme the Commission should:

a) make more explicit its commitment to promoting worker involvement in company decision-making and to strengthening the rights of employees' representatives,

b) bring out a communication on the future of the civil dialogue with the understanding that civil dialogue should consist of more than bi-annual European social policy forums,

c) not just carry forward the debate but launch an initiative, following active consultation and participation of all relevant social partners and actors, for the inclusion of a Bill of Rights at the next revision of the treaties,

d) set out how it intends to make use of the possibilities offered by the new social protection legal basis (Article 137(3), first indent, of the Amsterdam Treaty) ((Article references are to the consolidated version of the Amsterdam Treaty.)) and indicate in each case how far the social partners will be consulted pursuant to Article 138(2),

e) start preparatory work on an anti-discrimination action programme based on Article 13 and a new social inclusion programme based on Article 137(2), third subparagraph so that proposals can be put forward immediately following ratification of the Amsterdam Treaty,

f) stress that the above programmes should aim at actively promoting, identifying, analysing and disseminating innovative approaches to the fight against discrimination and social exclusion by means of transnational action, and should elicit the involvement of all relevant actors, whether public, private or not-for-profit,

g) ensure that stress is one of the areas to be examined under health and safety risks presently not covered by legislation,

h) indicate how, in the public procurement directives, it will enforce compliance with social legislation and introduce provisions on the basis of which social clauses may be included in contracts,

i) consult the two sides of industry on whether the Community needs to take steps to protect homeworkers,

j) present proposals for binding legislation on sexual harassment,

k) assess the impact of the code of practice on equal pay for work of equal value and take steps to overcome the significant gaps in available earnings data, particularly in sectors where women predominate,

l) publish before the end of 1998 its proposal for a Directive completing the legislative framework for equal treatment between women and men in social security schemes,

m) submit without delay a proposal amending Directive 86/613/EEC, which is very poorly applied in most of the Member States, taking as its guide the resolution adopted unanimously by the European Parliament on 21 February 1997 on the situation of assisting spouses of the self-employed ((OJ C 85, 17.3.1997, p.186.)) which in particular provides special social protection for such workers, who are often undetectable,

n) proceed with the publication of the now overdue evaluation report on the implementation of the Directive 92/85/EEC on the health and safety of pregnant workers, so that this can form the basis for a proposal to amend the Directive if necessary;

4. Is disappointed that the Commission chose a time frame for its new Social Action Programme of 1998 - 2000, and not 1998 - 2006, since the latter time frame would have enhanced the central importance of employment and social affairs in Community policy making;

5. Insructs its committee responsible to monitor on a regular and periodic basis the implementation by the Commission of the social action programme 1998-2000;

6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council and the European social partners.