On Tuesday 17 September, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) expressed its concern at the disappearance from the organisation chart of the future European Commission (see EUROPE 13484/1) of a Commissioner for Employment, in favour of a “People, Skills and Preparedness” portfolio, a move it described in a press release as a “mistake (...) amid [the] jobs crisis”.
“Every European Commission since the 1970s has included a Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs (or Jobs and Social Rights as it has been called since 2019)”, deplored the ETUC.
This new portfolio, which in this case corresponds to a vice-presidency, was entrusted on 17 September to the Romanian socialist and current MEP, Roxana Mînzatu, who will be responsible for continuing the work carried out over the last five years by Nicolas Schmit from Luxembourg.
Currently a member of the Committee on Regional Development, she will be responsible for managing the Skills and Education, Quality Jobs and Social Rights portfolios, although this is not included in her title, according to the letter of mission sent by the President-elect of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
As such, she is expected to “guide the overall work on strengthening Europe’s human capital, from skills and education to building up knowledge and experiences throughout our lives (...). Your role will be to work with Commissioners on supporting people, strengthening our societies and our social model”, while also developing the “opportunities of our social market economy”.
“Working with other Commissioners, you will guide the work on the European Pillar of Social Rights and help tackle the skills and labour gaps”, the letter says. The candidate will also have to focus on training and education, as well as on the impact and opportunities of technology and innovation in the world of work.
Algorithmic management at work. In terms of flagship initiatives, although they do not appear to be particularly numerous or completely new, the Romanian will be responsible for developing an initiative action on algorithmic management at work and will push forward the initiative already planned on the right to disconnect.
She will not be directly involved in plans for affordable housing.
She will also have to present a new plan for the Pillar of Social Rights in 2025 and develop a roadmap for quality jobs, which will support “fair pay and high standards of health and safety at work”. It will also be a question of increasing the degree of coverage of workers by collective agreements.
In early 2025, she will also be expected to present a new ‘Pact for European Social Dialogue’.
Another mission: to develop Europe’s first-ever anti-poverty strategy.
Coordination of social security. The Romanian will also have to “explore ways to further facilitate labour mobility, whilst ensuring that rules are properly enforced with the support of a strong and empowered European Labour Authority”.
She will also have to work on “the modernisation, simplification and digitalisation of social security coordination”.
However, the letter does not mention any revision of the ELA’s mandate.
Link to the letter: https://aeur.eu/f/dgd (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)