European Parliament legislative resolution of 8 July 2015 on the proposal for a Council decision on guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States (COM(2015)0098 — C8-0075/2015 — 2015/0051(NLE))
Date: 2015-07-08
Institutions: Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, European Parliament
Subjects: EU employment policy, economic growth, economic recession, education, equal treatment, job creation, manpower needs, marginalisation, poverty, social integration








C_2017265EN.01020101.xml










11.8.2017   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 265/201





P8_TA(2015)0261
Guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States *
European Parliament legislative resolution of 8 July 2015 on the proposal for a Council decision on guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States (COM(2015)0098 — C8-0075/2015 — 2015/0051(NLE))
(Consultation)
(2017/C 265/39)

The European Parliament,






—


having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council (COM(2015)0098),










—


having regard to Article 148(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, pursuant to which the Council consulted Parliament (C8-0075/2015),










—


having regard to Rule 59 of its Rules of Procedure,










—


having regard to the report of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (A8-0205/2015),












1.


Approves the Commission proposal as amended;












2.


Calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly, in accordance with Article 293(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union;












3.


Calls on the Council to notify Parliament if it intends to depart from the text approved by Parliament;












4.


Asks the Council to consult Parliament again if it intends to substantially amend the Commission proposal;












5.


Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council and the Commission.





Amendment 1


Proposal for a decision


Recital 1








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(1)


Member States and the Union should work towards developing 
a
 coordinated strategy for employment 
and particularly
 for promoting a skilled, trained 
and adaptable
 workforce and labour markets responsive to economic change 
and
 with a view to achieving the full employment and social progress objectives set out in Article 3 of the Treaty on European Union. Member States, having regard to national practices related to the responsibilities of management and labour, are to regard promoting employment as a matter of common concern and coordinate their action in this respect within the Council.












(1)


Member States and the Union should work towards developing 
an effective and
 coordinated strategy for employment
, designed to counter the serious effects of unemployment,
 for promoting a skilled, trained workforce and labour markets responsive to economic
, social and environmental
 change
, notably through the targeted promotion of training in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics sectors and through the adaptation of the education systems,
 with a view to achieving the full employment and social progress objectives set out in Article 3 of the Treaty on European Union. 
Particular efforts should be made to increase the employment of workers with very low levels of schooling or skills and of those who are unable to acquire training or skills rapidly, and to reduce ever increasing large-scale and long-term unemployment, with particular focus on regions which are lagging behind.
 Member States, having regard to national practices related to the responsibilities of management and labour, are to regard promoting employment as 
a priority and
 a matter of common concern and coordinate their action in this respect within the Council. 
The Union should accompany those efforts with policy proposals to achieve the Treaty objectives and to ensure an inclusive, integrated labour market as well as decent working conditions across the Union, including adequate wages, also achieved by way of collective bargaining.











Amendment 2


Proposal for a decision


Recital 1 a (new)








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 










(1a)






According to Eurostat estimates, there were 23 815 000  unemployed people in the Union in January 2015, 18 059 000  of whom were in the euro area.











Amendment 3


Proposal for a decision


Recital 1 b (new)








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 










(1b)






It is now essential to establish reliable indicators for the condition of poverty in which many Union citizens find themselves, with respect to the previous figures contained in Council Decision 2010/707/EU

 (1bis)

which identified the need to lift at least 20 million people out of the risk of poverty and exclusion.











Amendment 4


Proposal for a decision


Recital 2








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(2)


The Union must combat social exclusion 
and
 discrimination, ensure equal access to fundamental rights, and promote social justice and protection. In defining and implementing its policies and activities, the Union should take into account requirements linked to the guarantee of adequate social protection 
and
 the fight against social exclusion and a high level of education and training.












(2)


The Union must combat social exclusion
, all forms of poverty as well as
 discrimination, ensure equal access to fundamental rights, and promote social justice and protection. 
This overall objective should not be endangered by side effects of other legislation or policies.
 In defining and implementing its policies and activities, the Union should take into account requirements linked to the guarantee of adequate social protection, the fight against social exclusion, and a high level of education and training.









Amendment 6


Proposal for a decision


Recital 4








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(4)


Member States should regard their economic policies as a matter of common concern and coordinate them within the Council. Employment guidelines and broad economic policy guidelines should be adopted by the Council to guide Member States’ and Union policies.












(4)


Member States should regard their economic policies
, together with their social policies,
 as a matter of common concern and coordinate them within the Council. Employment guidelines and broad economic policy guidelines should be adopted by the Council to guide Member States’ and Union policies.









Amendment 7


Proposal for a decision


Recital 4 a (new)








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 










(4a)






To ensure a more democratic decision-making on the integrated


guidelines, which affect the citizens and labour markets across the Union, it is important that both the employment guidelines and the broad economic guidelines are decided upon by the European Parliament and the Council. The integrated guidelines must allow Member States, as a priority, to adopt sustainable and integrated economic models at Union, national and local level.











Amendment 8


Proposal for a decision


Recital 5








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(5)


In accordance with the Treaty provisions, the Union has developed and implemented policy coordination instruments for fiscal policy and macro-structural policies. The European Semester combines the different instruments in an overarching framework for integrated multilateral economic 
and
 budgetary 
surveillance
. The streamlining and strengthening of the European Semester as set out in the Commission's 2015 Annual Growth Survey 
will
 further improve its functioning.












(5)


In accordance with the Treaty, the Union has developed and implemented policy coordination instruments for fiscal policy and macro-structural policies 
which have a strong impact on the social and employment situation in the Union
. 
Those policies may result in a trend of stagnation and deflation in some parts of the Union, which could discourage growth and employment. In that regard, it is vital to take into consideration the new social indicators and the asymmetric shocks that certain Member States have experienced as a result of the financial and economic crisis
. The European Semester combines the different instruments in an overarching framework for integrated multilateral 
surveillance of
 economic, budgetary
, employment and social policies, and should be better geared to delivering the EU2020 targets
. The streamlining and strengthening of the European Semester as set out in the Commission's 2015 Annual Growth Survey 
may
 further improve its functioning
, but that instrument has not yet improved the economic situation in the Member States worst affected by the crisis
.









Amendment 9


Proposal for a decision


Recital 5 a (new)








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 










(5a)






According to the European Social Observatory, 26 Member States already have income support and social protection schemes

 (1bis). 
The Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility, Marianne Thyssen, stated that ‘if [she] could decide what happens in all Member States in Europe, then there would be a minimum income in all countries in Europe’.











Amendment 10


Proposal for a decision


Recital 5 b (new)








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 










(5b)






There is no regulatory competence at Union level for the creation of a regulatory framework for a Union minimum wage.











Amendment 47


Proposal for a decision


Recital 6








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(6)


The financial and economic crisis revealed and emphasised 
important
 weaknesses in the 
economy
 of the 
Union and its Member States
. It has also underscored the close interdependence of the Member States' economies and labour markets. Moving the Union to a state of strong, sustainable and inclusive growth and job creation is the key challenge faced today. This requires coordinated 
and ambitious
 policy action both on Union and national level, in line with the provisions of the Treaty and the Union economic governance. Combining supply and demand side measures, these actions should encompass a boost to investment, 
a
 renewed commitment to structural reforms and exercising fiscal responsibility.












(6)


The financial and economic crisis revealed and emphasised 
serious
 weaknesses in the 
economies of the Member States and in the Union's coordination mechanisms
. It has also underscored the close interdependence of the Member States' economies and labour markets. Moving the Union to a state of strong, sustainable and inclusive growth and job creation
, which involves putting a stop to the large pockets of unemployment that have arisen in certain parts of its territory,
 is the key challenge faced today. This requires 
firm,
 coordinated, ambitious
, but, above all, effective
 policy action both on Union and national level, in line with the provisions of the Treaty and the Union economic governance. Combining supply and demand side measures, these actions should encompass a boost to investment, 
particularly investment aiming to develop small and medium-sized enterprises, microenterprises, innovative start-ups and businesses promoting green employment and
 renewed commitment to structural reforms and exercising fiscal responsibility. 
Those actions should also encompass the creation of a more inclusive rights-based labour market, flanked by adequate social protection. They should also include social protection measures, such as guaranteed minimum income, to be introduced in accordance with national practices, with the goal of fighting extreme poverty and social exclusion.











Amendment 12


Proposal for a decision


Recital 7








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(7)


Member States and the Union should also address the social impact of the crisis and aim 
at building a cohesive
 society in which people are empowered to anticipate and manage change, and can actively participate in society and the economy. Access and opportunities for all should be ensured and poverty and social exclusion reduced, in particular by ensuring an effective functioning of labour markets and social welfare systems and removing barriers to labour market participation. Member States should also make sure that the benefits of economic growth reach all citizens and all region
s
.












(7)


Member States and the Union should also address the social impact of the crisis 
by providing more reliable figures on extreme poverty,
 and aim 
to build an inclusive and more just
 society in which people are empowered to anticipate and manage change, and can actively participate in society and the economy. 
Non-discriminatory
 access and opportunities for all should be ensured and poverty and social exclusion reduced 
substantially
, in particular by ensuring an effective functioning of labour markets and 
adequate
 social welfare systems and removing 
unnecessary administrative barriers and
 barriers to labour market participation
, in particular those affecting people with disabilities
. Member States should also make sure that the benefits of economic growth reach all citizens and all 
regional and local entities
. 
The scoreboard of key employment and social indicators within the Joint Employment Report is a particularly useful tool in this respect by helping to detect key employment and social problems and divergences in a timely way and identify areas where policy response is most needed. However, further editions of the scoreboard should include also gender disaggregated data.











Amendment 13


Proposal for a decision


Recital 7 a (new)








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 










(7a)






The European Court of Auditors has identified three risks to the successful implementation of the Youth Guarantee initiative: the adequacy of total funding, the definition of a ‘good quality offer’, and the way the Commission monitors and reports on the results of the scheme.











Amendment 14


Proposal for a decision


Recital 7 b (new)








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 










(7b)








Council Decision 2010/707/EU

 (1bis)

set out the following goals: to raise the employment rate for women and men aged 20 to 64 to 75 % by 2020; to reduce the drop-out rates to less than 10 %; to increase the share of 30 to 34-year-olds completing tertiary or equivalent education to at least 40 %; and to promote social inclusion, in particular through the reduction of poverty by aiming to lift at least 20 million people out of the risk of poverty and exclusion. The realisation of the Europe 2020 strategy in the employment and social area remains a key objective of Member States’ employment policy.













Amendment 15


Proposal for a decision


Recital 8








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(8)


Action in line with the guidelines is an important contribution to reaching the goals of the Europe 2020 strategy. The guidelines constitute an integrated set of European and national policies, which Member States and the Union should implement in order to achieve the positive spill-over effects of coordinated 
structural
 reforms, an appropriate overall economic policy mix and a more consistent contribution from European policies to the Europe 2020 strategy’s objectives.












(8)


Action in line with the guidelines is an important contribution to reaching the goals of the Europe 2020 strategy 
which have not yet been achieved
. 
The outcome of the 2014 public consultation on the Europe 2020 strategy clearly showed that the employment, poverty, social exclusion and education targets of the strategy are still highly relevant, and are equally important, interdependent and mutually reinforcing.
 The guidelines constitute an integrated set of European and national policies, which Member States and the Union should implement in order to achieve the positive spill-over effects of coordinated reforms 
aiming to reduce inequalities and increasing the well-being of citizens
, an appropriate overall economic policy mix and a more consistent contribution from European policies to the Europe 2020 strategy’s objectives.









Amendment 16


Proposal for a decision


Recital 9








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(9)


While these guidelines are addressed to Member States and the Union, they should be implemented in partnership with all national, regional and local authorities, 
closely associating
 parliaments, as well as social partners and representatives of civil society.












(9)




When designing and implementing national policies, Member States should ensure effective governance.
 While these guidelines are addressed to Member States and the Union, they should be implemented
, monitored and evaluated
 in partnership with all national, regional and local authorities, parliaments, as well as social partners and representatives of civil society.









Amendment 17


Proposal for a decision


Recital 10








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(10)


The broad guidelines for economic policies give guidance to the Member States on implementing reforms
, reflecting interdependence. They are in line with the Stability and Growth Pact. The guidelines
 should form the basis for country-specific recommendations that the Council may address to the Member States.












(10)


The broad guidelines for economic policies 
and the employment guidelines
 give guidance to the Member States on implementing reforms 
and
 should form the basis for country-specific recommendations that the Council may address to the Member States. 
Given the close interdependence of Member States' economies and labour markets, when adopting country-specific recommendations the Council should take into consideration the state of affairs in the neighbouring countries as well as in countries with which the respective Member State has clear connections following a trend in migration by workers or any other relevant indicator. In that respect, the Commission should have accurate and updated statistics and data available in case the country-specific recommendations need to be adjusted.











Amendment 18


Proposal for a decision


Annex — Guideline 5 — paragraph 1








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





Member States should facilitate job creation, reduce barriers for business to hire people, promote entrepreneurship and in particular support the creation and growth of small enterprises in order to increase the employment rate of women and men. Member States should 
also
 actively promote the social economy and foster social innovation.


Member States
, in cooperation with regional and local authorities,
 should 
effectively and promptly tackle the serious issue of unemployment, and
 facilitate 
and invest in sustainable and quality
 job creation, 
address accessibility for at-risk groups and
 reduce barriers for business to hire people 
across skill levels and labour market sectors, including by cutting red tape, whilst respecting labour and social standards
, promote 
youth
 entrepreneurship and in particular support the creation and growth of 
micro,
 small 
and medium
 enterprises in order to increase the employment rate of women and men. Member States should actively promote
, inter alia, green, white and blue-sector jobs and
 the social economy and foster social innovation.





Amendment 19


Proposal for a decision


Annex — Guideline 5 — paragraph 2








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





The tax burden should be shifted away from labour to other sources of taxation that are less detrimental to employment and growth while protecting revenue for adequate social protection and 
growth enhancing
 expenditures. Reductions in labour taxation should be aimed at the relevant components of the tax burden and at removing barriers and disincentives to labour market participation, in particular for those furthest away from the labour market.


The tax burden should be shifted away from labour to other sources of taxation that are less detrimental to employment and growth while protecting revenue for adequate social protection and expenditures 
directed towards public investment, innovation and job creation
. Reductions in labour taxation should be aimed at the relevant components of the tax burden
, at tackling discrimination
 and at removing barriers and disincentives to labour market participation, in particular for 
people with disabilities and
 those furthest away from the labour market
, while respecting existing labour standards
.





Amendment 20


Proposal for a decision


Annex — Guideline 5 — paragraph 3








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





Member States should, together with the social partners, encourage wage-setting mechanisms allowing for a responsiveness of wages to productivity developments. In this respect, differences in skills and local labour market conditions 
as well as divergences in economic performance across regions, sectors and companies
 should be 
taken into account
. When setting minimum wages, Member States and social partners should consider their impact on in-work poverty, job creation and competitiveness.




Policies to ensure that wages allow an adequate living income remain important to create employment and decrease poverty in the Union.
 Member States should 
therefore
, together with the social partners, 
respect and
 encourage wage-setting mechanisms allowing for a responsiveness of 
real
 wages to productivity developments 
helping to correct past divergence without fuelling deflationary pressure. Those mechanisms should ensure sufficient resources to satisfy basic needs, taking account poverty indicators specific to each Member State
. In this respect, differences in skills and local labour market conditions should be 
properly evaluated with the aim of ensuring a decent living wage across the Union
. When setting minimum wages 
in accordance with national legislation and practices
, Member States and social partners should 
ensure their adequacy as well as
 consider their impact on in-work poverty, 
household income, aggregate demand,
 job creation and competitiveness.





Amendment 21


Proposal for a decision


Annex — Guideline 5 — paragraph 3 a (new)








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 




Member States should cut red tape in order to ease the burden on small and medium-sized enterprises, as they contribute significantly to job creation.







Amendment 22


Proposal for a decision


Annex — Guideline 6 — paragraph 1








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





Member States should promote productivity and employability through an appropriate supply of relevant knowledge and skills. Member States should make 
the necessary
 investments in education and vocational training systems while improving their effectiveness and efficiency to raise the skill level of the workforce, allowing it to better anticipate and meet the rapidly changing needs of dynamic labour markets in an increasingly digital economy. 
Member States should step up efforts to improve access to quality adult learning for all and implement active ageing strategies to enable longer working lives.




Member States should promote 
sustainable
 productivity and 
quality
 employability through an appropriate supply of relevant knowledge and skills 
made available and accessible to all
. 
There should be particular focus on health care, social services and transport services which are facing or will face staff shortages in the medium term.
 Member States should make 
effective
 investments in 
high-quality and inclusive
 education 
from an early age
 and vocational training systems while improving their effectiveness and efficiency to raise the 
knowhow and
 skill level of the workforce, 
while increasing the diversity of skills,
 allowing it to better anticipate and meet the rapidly changing needs of dynamic labour markets in an increasingly digital economy. 
To that end, the fact that ‘soft skills’ such as communication are becoming more important for a large number of occupations should be taken into account.







Amendment 23


Proposal for a decision


Annex — Guideline 6 — paragraph 1 a (new)








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 




Member States should promote entrepreneurship among young people inter alia by introducing optional entrepreneurship courses and encouraging the creation of student enterprises in high schools and colleges. Member States, in cooperation with local and regional authorities, should step up efforts to prevent young people from dropping out of school and to ensure a smoother transition from education and training to professional life, to improve access and remove barriers to high-quality adult learning for all with particular focus on high-risk groups and their needs, by offering retraining of skills when job losses and changes in the labour market necessitate active reintegration. Simultaneously Member States should implement active ageing strategies to enable healthy working up to the real retirement age.







Amendment 24


Proposal for a decision


Annex — Guideline 6 — paragraph 1 b (new)








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 




While ensuring the necessary skills level requested by a continuously changing labour market and supporting education and training alongside programmes for adult learning, Member States should take into account that low-skills jobs are also needed and that employment opportunities are better for the high-skilled than for the medium- and low-skilled.







Amendment 25


Proposal for a decision


Annex — Guideline 6 — paragraph 1 c (new)








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 




Access to affordable, high-quality, early childhood education and care should be a priority for comprehensive policies and investment coupled with family and parenting support and reconciliation measures helping parents to balance work and family life, as a contribution to preventing early school-leaving and increasing young people's chances on the labour market.







Amendment 26


Proposal for a decision


Annex — Guideline 6 — paragraph 2








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment







High unemployment should be tackled and
 long-term unemployment prevented. The number of long-term unemployed should be 
significantly reduced
 by means of comprehensive and mutually reinforcing strategies, including the provision of 
specific
 active support to long-term unemployed to return to the labour market. The youth unemployment needs to be comprehensively addressed, 
including
 by equipping the relevant 
institutions
 with the necessary means to fully and consistently implement their national Youth Guarantee Implementation Plans.




The issue of unemployment, in particular
 long-term unemployment 
and regional high unemployment should be resolved effectively and promptly, as well as
 prevented 
through a mix of demand and supply-side measures
. The number of long-term unemployed 
and the problem of skills mismatch and skill obsolescence
 should be 
addressed
 by means of comprehensive and mutually reinforcing strategies, including the provision of 
personalised needs-based
 active support 
and appropriate social protection schemes
 to long-term unemployed to return to the labour market 
in an informed and responsible manner
. The youth unemployment needs to be comprehensively addressed, 
through an overall youth employment strategy. This includes investing in sectors that can create quality jobs for young people and
 by equipping the relevant 
actors such as youth support services, education and training providers, youth organisations and public employment services
 with the necessary means to fully and consistently implement their national Youth Guarantee Implementation Plans
, but also by the rapid take-up of resources by Member States
. 
Access to funding for those who choose to start a business should be facilitated by means of a wider availability of information, a reduction in excessive bureaucracy and possibilities to convert several months' unemployment benefits into an upfront start-up grant after presentation of a business plan and in compliance with national legislation.







Amendment 27


Proposal for a decision


Annex — Guideline 6 — paragraph 2 a (new)








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 




Member States should take into consideration local and regional disparities in drawing up and carrying out measures against unemployment and should work together with local employment services.







Amendment 28


Proposal for a decision


Annex — Guideline 6 — paragraph 3








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





Structural weaknesses in education and training systems should be addressed to ensure quality learning outcomes and prevent and tackle early school leaving. Member States should increase educational attainment 
and consider
 dual learning systems 
and
 upgrading professional training 
while at the same time increase opportunities for recognising skills acquired outside the formal education system
.


Structural weaknesses in education and training systems should be addressed to ensure high-quality learning outcomes and prevent and tackle early school leaving
, and promote an all-embracing, high-quality education from the most basic level onwards
. 
This requires flexible educational systems with a focus on practice.
 Member States
, in cooperation with local and regional authorities,
 should increase 
the quality of
 educational attainment 
by making it accessible to all, set up and improve
 dual learning systems
, adapted to their needs, by
 upgrading professional training 
and existing frameworks such as europass, while ensuring, where necessary, appropriate retraining of skills and recognition of those acquired outside of the formal education system
. 
Links between education and labour market should be strengthened, while ensuring that education is sufficiently broad to provide people with a solid basis for life-long employability.







Amendment 29


Proposal for a decision


Annex — Guideline 6 — paragraph 3 a (new)








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 




Member States should gear their training systems more closely to the labour market with a view to better transition from training to employment. In particular in the context of digitisation, and in terms of new technologies, green jobs and health care are essential.







Amendment 30


Proposal for a decision


Annex — Guideline 6 — paragraph 4








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment







Barriers to
 labour market 
participation should
 be reduced, especially for women, older workers, young people, 
the disabled
 and legal migrants. Gender equality including equal pay must be ensured in the labour market as well as access to affordable quality early childhood education and care.




Discrimination on the labour market as well as with regard to access to the
 labour market 
need to
 be 
further
 reduced, especially for 
groups that face discrimination or exclusion, such as
 women, older workers, young people, 
people with disabilities
 and legal migrants. Gender equality including equal pay must be ensured in the labour market as well as access to affordable, high-quality early childhood education and care 
as well as the flexibility necessary to prevent the exclusion of those with breaks in their careers due to family responsibilities such as family carers. In this sense, the Women on Board Directive should be unblocked by the Member States.







Amendment 31


Proposal for a decision


Annex — Guideline 6 — paragraph 4 a (new)








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 




In this respect, Member States should take into account the fact that the rates of young persons not in employment, education or training (NEET) are higher for women than for men and that the NEET phenomenon is primarily due to an increase in youth unemployment but also to non-education linked inactivity.







Amendment 32


Proposal for a decision


Annex — Guideline 6 — paragraph 5








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





Member States should make a full use of European Social Fund and other Union funds support in order to improve employment, social inclusion, education 
and
 public administration.


Member States should make a full
, effective and efficient
 use of European Social Fund and other Union funds support in order to 
combat poverty,
 improve 
quality
 employment, social inclusion, education, public administration 
and public services. The European Fund for Strategic Investments and its investment platforms should also be mobilised to ensure that quality jobs are created and workers are equipped with skills needed for the Union's transition towards a sustainable growth model.







Amendment 33


Proposal for a decision


Annex — Guideline 7 — paragraph 1








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





Member States should reduce labour market segmentation. Employment protection rules and institutions should provide a suitable environment for recruitment while offering adequate levels of protection to those in employment and those seeking employment or employed on temporary contracts or independent work contracts. Quality employment should be ensured in terms of socio-economic security, education and training opportunities, 
working conditions (including health and safety)
 and work-life balance.


Member States should reduce labour market segmentation 
by tackling precarious employment, underemployment, undeclared labour and zero-hour contracts
. Employment protection rules and institutions should provide a suitable environment for recruitment while offering adequate levels of protection to those in employment and those seeking employment or employed on temporary
, part-time, atypical
 contracts or independent work contracts
, by actively involving the social partners and by promoting collective bargaining
. Quality employment should be ensured 
for all
 in terms of socio-economic security, 
durability, adequate wages, rights at work, decent workplace conditions (including health and safety), social security protection, gender equality,
 education and training opportunities
. Therefore it is necessary to promote the entry of young people into the labour market, the reintegration of long-term unemployed
 and work-life balance
, providing affordable care and modernising work organisation
. 
Upward convergence in working conditions should be promoted across the Union.







Amendment 34


Proposal for a decision


Annex — Guideline 7 — paragraph 1 a (new)








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 




Access to the labour market should facilitate entrepreneurship, sustainable job creation in all sectors, including green employment, and social care and innovation, in order to make the best use of people's skills, foster their lifelong development and encourage employee-driven innovation.







Amendment 35


Proposal for a decision


Annex — Guideline 7 — paragraph 2








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





Member States should closely involve 
National Parliaments and
 social partners in the design and implementation of relevant reforms and policies, in line with national practices, while supporting the improvement of the functioning and effectiveness of social dialogue at national level.


Member States should closely involve 
national parliaments,
 social partners
, civil society organisations, regional and local authorities
 in the design and implementation of relevant reforms and policies, in line with 
the partnership principle and
 national practices, while supporting the improvement of the functioning and effectiveness of social dialogue at national level
, especially in those countries with major problems of wage devaluation caused by recent deregulation of labour markets and weakness of collective bargaining
.





Amendment 36


Proposal for a decision


Annex — Guideline 7 — paragraph 3








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





Member States should 
strengthen
 active labour market policies by 
increasing
 their targeting, outreach, coverage and interplay with 
passive
 measures. These policies should aim at improving labour market 
matching
 and support sustainable transitions on the labour market, with public employment services delivering individualised support and implementing performance measurement systems. Member States should also ensure that their social protection systems effectively activate and enable those who can participate in the labour market, protect those (temporarily) excluded from the labour markets and/or unable to participate in it, and prepare individuals for potential risks, by investing in human capital. Member States should promote inclusive labour markets open to all and also put in place effective anti-discrimination measures.


Member States should 
ensure basic standards of quality of
 active labour market policies by 
improving
 their targeting, outreach, coverage and interplay with 
supporting
 measures 
such as social security
. These policies should aim at improving labour market 
access, strengthening collective bargaining and social dialogue
 and support sustainable transitions on the labour market, with 
highly qualified
 public employment services delivering individualised support and implementing performance measurement systems. Member States should also ensure that their social protection systems effectively activate and enable those who can participate in the labour market, protect those (temporarily) excluded from the labour markets and/or unable to participate in it, and prepare individuals for potential risks 
and changing economic and social conditions
, by investing in human capital. 
Member States should introduce, as one of the possible measures to reduce poverty and in accordance with national practice, a minimum income proportionate to their specific socio-economic situation.
 Member States should promote inclusive labour markets open to all and also put in place effective anti-discrimination measures.





Amendment 37


Proposal for a decision


Annex — Guideline 7 — paragraph 4








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





Mobility of workers should be ensured with an aim of exploiting the full potential of the European labour market, including by enhancing the portability of pensions and the recognition of qualifications. Member States should at the same time 
guard against abuses of the existing rules
.


Mobility of workers should be ensured 
as a fundamental right and as a matter of free choice,
 with an aim of exploiting the full potential of the European labour market, including by enhancing the portability of pensions and the 
effective
 recognition of qualifications 
and skills and the elimination of red tape and other existing barriers
. Member States should at the same time 
tackle the language barriers, improving training systems in this matter. Member States should also make an appropriate use of the EURES network in order to encourage worker mobility
. 
Investment in regions experiencing labour outflows should be promoted to mitigate brain drain and encourage mobile workers to return.







Amendment 38


Proposal for a decision


Annex — Guideline 7 a (new) — title








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 




Improving the quality and performance of education and training systems at all levels







Amendment 39


Proposal for a decision


Annex — Guideline 7 a (new)








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 




Member States should make access to care and to affordable quality early childhood education a priority as both are important support measures for labour market actors and contribute to increasing the overall employment rate while supporting the individuals in their responsibilities. Member States should set up the comprehensive policies and investment needed to improve family and parenting support and reconciliation measures helping parents to balance work and family life, as a contribution to preventing early school leaving and increasing young people's chances on the labour market.







Amendment 40


Proposal for a decision


Annex — Guideline 8 — title








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





Ensuring 
fairness
, combatting poverty and promoting equal opportunities


Ensuring 
social justice
, combatting poverty and promoting equal opportunities





Amendment 41


Proposal for a decision


Annex — Guideline 8 — paragraph 1








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





Member States should 
modernise
 their social protection systems to provide effective, efficient, 
and adequate
 protection throughout all stages of an individual’s life, ensuring fairness and addressing inequalities. There is a need for simplified 
and
 better targeted social policies 
complemented
 by affordable quality childcare and education, training and job assistance, housing support and 
accessible
 health care, access to basic services such as bank 
account
 and Internet and for action to prevent early school leaving and fight social exclusion.


Member States
, in cooperation with local and regional authorities,
 should 
improve
 their social protection systems 
by ensuring basic standards
 to provide effective, efficient 
and sustainable
 protection throughout all stages of an individual’s life, ensuring 
life in dignity, solidarity, access to social protection, full respect of social rights,
 fairness and addressing inequalities 
as well as ensuring inclusion in order to eliminate poverty, in particular for people excluded from the labour market and for the more vulnerable groups
. There is a need for simplified, better targeted 
and more ambitious
 social policies 
including
 by affordable, high-quality childcare and education, 
effective
 training and job assistance, housing support and 
high-quality
 health care 
accessible to all
, access to basic services such as bank 
accounts
 and 
the
 Internet and for action to prevent early school leaving and fight 
extreme poverty,
 social exclusion
, and more generally all forms of poverty. Child poverty in particular must be decisively tackled
.





Amendment 42


Proposal for a decision


Annex — Guideline 8 — paragraph 2








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





For that purpose a variety of instruments should be used in a complementary manner, including labour activation enabling services and income support, targeted at individual needs. Social protection systems should be designed in a way that facilitate take up of all persons 
entitled
, support investment in human capital, and help prevent, reduce and protect against poverty.


For that purpose a variety of instruments should be used in a complementary manner, including labour activation enabling services and income support, targeted at individual needs. 
In this respect, it is up to each Member State to set levels of minimum income in accordance with national practice and proportionate to the specific socio-economic situation in the Member State in question.
 Social protection systems should be designed in a way that facilitate 
access and
 take up of all persons 
in a non-discriminatory way,
 support investment in human capital, and help prevent, reduce and protect against poverty 
and social exclusion as well as against other risks such as loss of health or employment. There should be a particular focus on children in poverty due to their parents' long-term unemployment
.





Amendment 43


Proposal for a decision


Annex — Guideline 8 — paragraph 3








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





The pension systems should be 
reformed in order to secure
 their sustainability and adequacy for women and men 
in a context of increasing longevity and demographic change, including by linking statutory retirement ages to life expectancy, by increasing effective retirement ages, and
 by 
developing complementary
 retirement 
savings
.


The pension systems should be 
structured in a way that
 their sustainability
, safety
 and adequacy for women and men 
is ensured by strengthening
 retirement 
schemes, aiming at a decent retirement income at least above the poverty level. The pension systems should provide for consolidation, further development and improvement of the three pillars of retirement saving systems. Linking retirement age to life expectancy is not the only instrument by means of which to tackle the challenge of aging. Reforms of pension systems should also, inter alia, reflect labour market trends, birth rate, demographic situation, health and wealth situation, working conditions and the economic dependency ratio. The best way to tackle the challenge of ageing is to increase the overall employment rate, building, inter alia, on social investments in active ageing.







Amendment 44


Proposal for a decision


Annex — Guideline 8 — paragraph 4








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





Member States should improve the accessibility, efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare and long term care systems, while safeguarding 
fiscal
 sustainability.


Member States should improve the 
quality, affordability,
 accessibility, efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare and long term care systems 
and welfare services as well as decent working conditions in the related sectors
, while safeguarding 
the financial
 sustainability 
of these systems by improving the solidarity-based financing.







Amendment 45


Proposal for a decision


Annex — Guideline 8 — paragraph 4 a (new)








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 




Member States should make a full use of European Social Fund and other Union funds support in order to fight poverty, social exclusion and discrimination, improve accessibility for people with disabilities to promote equality between women and men and improve public administration.







Amendment 46


Proposal for a decision


Annex — Guideline 8 — paragraph 4 b (new)








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 




The Europe 2020 headline targets, on the basis of which Member States set their national targets, taking into account their relative starting positions and national circumstances, aims to raise the employment rate for women and men aged 20 to 64 to 75 % by 2020; to reduce the drop-out rate to less than 10 %; to increase the share of 30 to 34-year-olds completing tertiary or equivalent education to at least 40 %; and to promote social inclusion, in particular through the reduction of poverty by aiming to lift at least 20 million people out of the risk of poverty and exclusion

 (1bis)

.








(1bis)  
Council Decision 2010/707/EU of 21 October 2010 on guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States (OJ L 308, 24.11.2010, p. 46).



(1bis)  
http://www.eesc.europa.eu/resources/docs/revenu-minimum_-etude-ose_-vfinale_en--2.pdf



(1bis)  
Council Decision 2010/707/EU of 21 October 2010 on guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States (OJ L 308, 24.11.2010, p. 46).



(1bis)  
Population is defined as the number of people who are at risk of poverty and exclusion according to three indicators (at risk of poverty; material deprivation; jobless household), leaving Member States free to set their national targets on the basis of the most appropriate indicators, taking into account their national circumstances and priorities.