The German EU Council Presidency is inviting the ministers of the Member States to discuss two main topics in closed session and by videoconference on Tuesday, 13 October: in the morning, a debate on the role of and European support for workers in the event of restructuring, and in the afternoon, equal access to the labour market for women and men.
The issue of restructuring is coming up at the ministerial level because of flagging economies as a result of Covid-19. Some 75% of current restructuring is directly linked to the pandemic, with significant job losses in the transport sector (air transport in particular) and in the catering and hotel industries, according to the German Presidency in its document distributed to national delegations.
During the first debate, the Presidency will therefore seek the minister’ views on how best to target investment in skills and how EU funds can be used to “make a success” of the restructuring plans. The Presidency also hopes to identify measures at European and national level that could effectively protect workers' right to information and consultation during restructuring.
In the early afternoon, ministers will hold a second policy debate, this time on gender equality in the labour market. The debate will be held in the presence of the Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli, and will be chaired by the German Minister for Family, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, Franziska Giffey.
The Covid-19 pandemic, as the German Presidency points out in a note, has in fact highlighted and accentuated pre-existing inequalities, particularly in terms of employment levels and income, as well as the uneven distribution between paid and unpaid work (see EUROPE 12470/16).
Ministers will therefore discuss the tools to be implemented to promote gender equality on the European labour market and will be invited to present effective measures implemented in their respective states in this regard.
There will also be a Presidential information point in public session on the decision on improving cooperation between public employment services (PES) (see EUROPE 12576/30) and another Commission information point, held by the Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit, on the 4th revision of the directive on carcinogens and mutagens at work (see EUROPE 12565/24), also in public session. In addition, there will be a discussion on the last Tripartite Social Summit from June and the next one, to be held the following day, Wednesday 14 October.
Call from the unions
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) sent a letter to the ministers on Monday 12 October in which it expresses its concern about the numerous restructurings taking place at European level as a result of the pandemic, where fundamental workers' rights are being violated. The unions demand: - (1) respect for workers’ participation rights in the event of restructuring; - (2) the sanctioning of undertakings which infringe these rights; - 3) a reform of the European Works Council Directive.
Set of conclusions
On Wednesday 30 September, the Committee of Permanent Representatives adopted by written procedure a series of conclusions, in particular on seasonal workers (see EUROPE 12570/26), on the ‘Youth Guarantee’ (see EUROPE 12549/11) and a third on the respect for fundamental rights of the elderly in the digital age. There could be an EU Council statement specifically linked to these conclusions. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens and Agathe Cherki)