The French Presidency of the Council of the EU will invite the Ministers for Employment and Social Affairs to hold two public policy debates at the Employment and Social Policy Council (EPSCO) on Monday 14 March, one on the fight against discrimination in recruitment and the promotion of diversity in the workplace, and the other on the participation of older people in the labour market.
In the morning, the ministers will be invited to debate discrimination in employment. Here, the Presidency is putting three questions to the Member States: - a first one on the types of concrete tools to promote diversity in the labour market at national and European level and the role of the social partners; - a second on possible measures at European level beyond the European Social Fund; - finally, a third one focused on the role and resources allocated to enforcement authorities and equality bodies.
In the afternoon, the ministers will address the issue of promoting older people (55-64) in the labour market; the Presidency will seek to discuss practices to improve the employment rate of this age group, especially for women, as well as the role of the social partners. It will focus on the training of older people and the fight against the prejudices they suffer on the labour market. Finally, the Presidency intends to identify potential European actions to be taken, especially in terms of funding, to support senior citizens.
General approach
In addition, a general approach is reportedly in sight on the directive on a better gender balance among directors of listed companies. The conclusions on the European Court of Auditors’ special report on long-term unemployment are expected to be endorsed by the ministers.
Under ‘other business’, there will be an update on the Tripartite Social Summit as well as on the implementation of the EU action plan against racism, the annual report on equality between men and women, and the communication on the action plan for the development of the social economy (see EUROPE 12894/13).
The European Commission will also present the national targets it has received for employment, skills and poverty reduction in relation to the Action Plan on the European Pillar of Social Rights. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)