Brussels, 04/04/2011 (Agence Europe) - The European social partners - the ETUC (trade union), BusinessEurope, CEEP and UEAPME (employers) - held a conference on 31 March and 1 April to conclude a joint project on flexicurity.
The employers' side said that the discussions on flexicurity and the role to be played by the social partners were constructive. The unions highlighted the complexity of the concept of flexicurity, not to say the impossibility of rolling it out in all European countries. They also noted differing approaches between themselves and the employers, and the difficulty of having a common message on this issue.
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) wants the emphasis to be laid on securing occupational careers. This implies stable and well protected employment contracts so as to avoid the creation of what it calls “bad job traps”. The ETUC says that the involvement of the social partners in charting and implementing active policies for the labour market remains a key message. The commitment of member states, in particular in the transition phase or the management of short-time working arrangements, is decisive in terms both of protecting the unemployed and of vocational training policy. However, policies of austerity imposed by the pact for the euro lead to restrictions in this regard.
For the employers' side, BusinessEurope stressed the need to look at the practical application of flexicurity and its usefulness in limiting unemployment. For flexicurity to deliver its full potential, flexible labour law, active labour market policies, modern social security systems and a sound macroeconomic environment are essential. Translated to the company level, this means a sound business strategy, active competence management, flexible work organisation and labour costs in line with productivity. For further information, go to: http://www.businesseurope.com and http://www.etuc.org (G.B./transl.rt)