On 2 December in Brussels, the EU Ministers for Employment and Social Affairs will be asked to validate a set of conclusions and approve progress reports.
The permanent representatives of the Member States will prepare for this meeting on 22 November. While the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU is still hoping to reach agreement on the draft Directive on quality traineeships (see other news), it has already planned to submit a progress report to the Ministers on the EU Council recommendation on the same subject (‘quality framework for traineeships’), also presented last March (see EUROPE 13375/14).
A political debate is also scheduled for 2 December on the ‘European Semester 2025’ and the priorities in terms of employment and social policy, with a view to the future plan on the ‘European Pillar of Social Rights’.
Traineeships. The recommendation includes provisions on fair remuneration, access to adequate social protection, mentorship, equal access for individuals from diverse backgrounds, and the possibility of hybrid and remote working arrangements.
Under the Hungarian Presidency, as indicated in the draft public progress report of 15 November, the work consisted, among other things, of linking the recommendation with the Directive on the same subject.
With regard to the scope of the recommendation, the Presidency has excluded traineeships carried out as part of apprenticeships and those forming part of formal education and training programmes. Most delegations supported this approach, says the report.
“Some called for the exclusions to be extended, for example by aligning the scope of the recommendation with that of the Directive, while others argued that further reducing the scope of the recommendation would call into question the added value of the initiative”, notes the Presidency.
For several delegations, the recommendation, which is non-binding, should logically remain more ambitious than the Directive.
On the question of remuneration for traineeships, the compromise replaces the term ‘remuneration’ with ‘remuneration in cash or in kind’ in response to delegations’ request to use a broad term that unequivocally covers non-monetary payments. “In the light of comments made by several delegations (...), further work may be needed to bring additional clarity to this issue, especially regarding the phrase ‘in cash or in kind’”.
Labour and skills shortages. Referring in particular to the ‘Draghi’ and ‘Letta’ reports, the draft conclusions should call for the further development of “inclusive and comprehensive employment, skills and social policies aimed at facilitating entry into and transition within the labour market and the retention of employment, as well as helping workers, jobseekers and employers to adapt, in particular with reinforced up-and reskilling and lifelong learning opportunities”.
It will be necessary to foster the labour market access and integration of youth, by also paying particular attention to activating and up- and reskilling young people not in employment, education or training, and by further improving the implementation of the reinforced Youth Guarantee in this respect. The aim is also to explore and respond more effectively to the specific needs of older workers and to “strive to tap into the labour market potential of women”.
Work-life balance and demographic change. The text asks: - to “promote the efforts by employers and the social partners to develop, strengthen and implement policies ensuring work-life balance for both women and men in all their diversity, mental health policies aimed at improving the well-being of workers, as well as family-friendly workplace policies with a gender perspective, including breastfeeding-friendly policies”; - ensure affordable, accessible and high-quality early childhood education and care services for children, persons with disabilities, older people and other persons in need, including home care and community-based care. It is necessary to support single-parent families with financial assistance and introduce policies to improve employment prospects of informal carers.
Link to the progress report on the ‘Traineeships’ recommendation: https://aeur.eu/f/ed3
Link to the conclusions on work-life balance and equality in the context of demographic challenges: https://aeur.eu/f/ed0
Link to the conclusions on labour shortages: https://aeur.eu/f/ed1
Link to the debate on the ‘European Semester’: https://aeur.eu/f/edc (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)