6.4.2022
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
C 152/27
Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘How to guarantee decent work for young people and ensure the inclusion of NEETs through the proper elaboration of National Recovery Plans’ (own-initiative opinion) (2022/C 152/05)
Rapporteur: Nicoletta MERLO
Plenary Assembly decision
25.3.2021
Legal basis
Rule 32(2) of the Rules of Procedure Own-initiative opinion
Section responsible
Employment, Social Affairs and Citizenship
Adopted in section
24.11.2021
Adopted at plenary
8.12.2021
Plenary session No
565
Outcome of vote (for/against/abstentions)
152/13/48
1.
Conclusions and recommendations 1.1.
The EESC welcomes the NRRPs as an unprecedented opportunity to drive change and trigger investments in sustainable growth and creation of quality jobs that must be seized with inclusive governance, requiring dialogue, openness and transparency.
1.2.
The Committee notes with regret the lack of meaningful and targeted consultation with the social partners and stakeholders in some of the Member States during the designing of the NRRPs.
The EESC urges the Commission to put in place measures that guarantee structured and meaningful involvement of the social partners, organised civil society and youth organisations in the implementation and monitoring of the NRRPs.
Protecting and strengthening social dialogue at the national level is crucial in order to guarantee that public money is well spent on an inclusive recovery.
1.3.
The EESC suggests evaluating and systematising the collection of best practices from the national level, where the consultation with the social partners and youth organisations via dedicated committees and social dialogue yielded excellent results in terms of youth-specific policies and measures to create quality jobs and career prospects for young people.
1.4.
The Committee calls on the Member States to ensure quality and inclusive guidance and counselling for all young people, especially those with disabilities, starting in early school education, in order to provide them with more information on their further education and, subsequently, on career possibilities in the context of the green and digital transition of the labour market.
1.5.
The EESC welcomes measures to promote and popularise the role and profile of vocational education and training (VET) as a driver of innovation practices, STEM skills, lifelong learning and effective labour intermediation, as these are key to bridging the existing skills gap.
It is also important to improve skills evaluation in order to proactively identify the skills that will be needed in future labour markets in advance.
Appropriate arrangements should be made to ensure that VET is also accessible to people with disabilities, based on the recognition of individual abilities and enabling all citizens to acquire vocational skills that are useful for their personal development, while meeting the specific needs of companies as regards unfilled skilled jobs.
1.6.
The EESC recommends that personalised support be put in place for targeted groups, especially NEETs.
This support should make it possible to deal with all issues that are peripheral for integration into the labour market, such as housing, accommodation, transport and health, in a holistic manner.