The Hungarian Ministers for Employment Policy and Social Affairs, Sándor Czomba and Attila Fulop, presented, on Thursday 20 June in Luxembourg, the priorities of their mandate to their European counterparts.
These will be dominated by labour shortages and the skills and inclusion of people with disabilities, with the incoming Hungarian Presidency keen to develop effective strategies to "mobilise the EU's employment reserves”, particularly among young people and senior citizens, explained Sandor Czomba. The Presidency will work towards more inclusive labour markets, continued the minister. The aim will be to increase the social participation and inclusion of people with disabilities by improving access to services.
While the Hungarian Presidency is not expected to work on legal labour migration as a means of remedying labour shortages, the Hungarian six-month period for employment and social affairs is not expected to raise any particular difficulties, according to one source in Luxembourg on 20 June, although others will be keeping a close eye on the work on gender equality.
In its programme, presented on 18 June, the Presidency explains that the greatest challenge to employment in the EU is labour shortage, which affects virtually all sectors and regions. “This shortage has become a significant obstacle to business growth opportunities.
The Hungarian Presidency aims to focus on addressing labour shortages, involving available labour market reserves, and promoting a higher employment rate among the inactive working-age population. Promoting work-life balance is essential to address the demographic and labour market challenges”.
Achieving equal opportunities and equality between men and women is a cross-sectoral policy objective. “It is essential that women and men are given all the help they need to establish a harmonious work-life balance, and in this context, we also intend to address the issue of mental health and intergenerational solidarity and cooperation”.
The incoming Presidency will therefore seek to have EU Council conclusions adopted on the EU’s untapped labour potential.
Employment conditions - including support for the spread of flexible forms of work and atypical jobs that make it possible to reconcile family and work, in particular to help parents with young children - the working environment and job quality are also essential for preserving the mental and physical health of employees, extending working life and increasing competitiveness, the minister pointed out.
On the legislative front, Hungary will have to finalise negotiations on European Works Councils and continue discussions on the ‘traineeship package’. The EU Council will begin as well negotiations on the directive on the right to disconnect, scheduled in principle for the end of the year.
The sixth package of revisions to the directive on occupational safety limits for carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic substances is also due to be published in September 2024.
In addition, the Hungarian Presidency wants to contribute to the evaluation of the implementation of the regulation establishing the European Labour Authority (ELA).
Formal EU Council meeting on 16 July
The Presidency will organise a formal EU ‘Employment, Social Policy and Consumer Rights’ Council on 16 July, with a debate on labour and skills shortages and another on the inclusion of people with disabilities in the labour market.
Discussions will also be devoted to the ‘European Semester'’ fiscal process.
Link to the programme: https://aeur.eu/f/crs (Solenn Paulic)