The European Commission presented its new recommendations on the 'Youth Guarantee' on Wednesday 1 July, in which it extends the scheme to young people under the age of 30 in an effort to better target young NEETs - young people who are not in employment, education or training.
Based on seven years of experience, the European Commission wants to dust off the 'Youth Guarantee', a scheme set up in 2013 in the wake of the economic crisis to ensure that every young person under the age of 25 is offered a job, training, apprenticeship or traineeship within four months of losing a job or leaving school (see EUROPE 10829/18).
The Commission's recommendations, entitled 'A bridge to employment for the next generation', remain unchanged from a provisional version obtained by EUROPE (see EUROPE 12517/6): the Guarantee is extended to the age of 29 and is more inclusive, with a focus on young people with disabilities, young people in rural areas, minorities (especially the Roma), and young women. The Commission is refining its view of young NEETs, between those whose condition is temporary, who often have training or work experience, and those whose condition is longer term and who are much more vulnerable.
The institution also wants to better target the skills to be acquired by focusing on those related to the digitisation of the economy - 90% of current jobs require digital skills, the institution points out - and to the green transition.
It suggests encouraging "short-term employability" through short-time working, targeted wage subsidies and the promotion of self-employment, but also wants to strengthen apprenticeships, especially in times of economic recession. Finally, with regard to young NEETs, the institution believes that young people should be encouraged to complete their education and training through "less formal and more flexible" forms of education.
As such, the institution wants to improve the quality of job offers by making them subject to the requirements of the European pillar of social rights, in order to ensure, among other things, access to social protection, to a reasonable length of trial periods, and to a clear written contract, particularly with regard to periods of work and rest.
Finally, the Commission wants to improve follow-up with young people, particularly after they have obtained an offer, and to refine the data collected. To do so, it describes a four-step action in guarantee: - the development of an accurate mapping of the situation of young NEETs in order to prevent inactivity and unemployment; - raising the awareness of those concerned by informing these vulnerable groups about the available aid; - an individualised preparatory phase; - an offer of employment, apprenticeship or continuing education.
It is now up to the EU Council to adopt the recommendations by unanimity (Article 292 TFEU). The first working EU Council meeting on the subject is scheduled for 10 July, in preparation for the work which is expected to continue in September. The European Parliament will only have an advisory role.
Moderate enthusiasm
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) welcomed the recommendations, particularly the emphasis on the quality of the offers, but pointed out that "young people want a job - not a bridge to a job". Trade unions particularly insist on companies' responsibility for training their workers.
In Parliament, the S&D group stressed the importance of having "binding" criteria to guarantee the quality of jobs and training, based on written agreements, including for social protection and a living wage, vocational guidance, counselling and lifelong learning. According to the Social Democrats, the pandemic must not justify quantity at the expense of quality.
Above all, they question the source of the funds to finance this scheme, given that the European Commission has reduced the budgetary proposals for the European Social Fund + in its recent proposals for the economic recovery. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)