Bratislava, 22/05/2002 (Agence Europe) - The eighth Conference of Social Security Ministers for 44 of the Council of Europe Member States are meeting up on 21-23 May in Bratislava to analyse the repercussions of labour migration on the social security systems of the 44 countries (see EUROPE 16 May page 17). Conclusions are expected to be adopted on Thursday 23 May that will aim to ensure greater social coherence throughout Europe. The Conference will recommend the following to the Ministers' Committee of the Council of Europe: 1) That policies facilitating the integration of migrant workers into their host countries be continued (elimination of obstacles to equal treatment for migrant workers, the promotion of the Council of Europe's legal instruments - European Social Charter and the European Social Security Code - access to social rights, particularly social security); 2) Strengthening the Council of Europe's role in promoting co-ordination between Member States in social security matters by calling on: the European Committee for Social Co-ordination to take into account in the future the development of the science and technologies that create both new kinds of employment and new models of migration (with the subsequent consequences on social security), the specific situation for migrant workers, the particular problems for family members of migrant workers; - the European Committee for Social Cohesion must take into account in its future work, the consequences of illegal work on the social security system.
This Conference is the follow-up to the conference held in Malta four years ago and provided the occasion to reaffirm that the strengthening of the social security systems is a condition for maintaining social cohesion and examining how these systems continue to be viable faced with new demographic, economic, social, political, cultural and technological challenges. Igor Kosir, Director General of International Relations at the Slovak Ministry of Employment and Social Affairs pointed out to the press that, "The impact of migrant workers on the social security systems is an issue that will have an affect on future policies of European countries". He also indicated that Slovakia had become a country of transit for refugees from Asia, essentially Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, most of whom headed for Germany but with a sizeable number that remained in Slovakia. In a reference to a report by the expert Bernd Schulte, which is the basis for the discussions in Bratislava (see below), Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni, Director General for social cohesion at the Council of Europe, also stressed that Slovakia had become a country from where many immigrants originate, as well as being a country of transit. Ms Battaini-Dragoni was keen to emphasise the need to ensure the long-term viability of the EU social security systems and improving labour mobility.
The Schulte Report is calling on social security rights of migrant
workers to be better protected at a European level
The Bernd Schulte Report discussed at Bratislava stresses that: 1) Migration policy must establish an equilibrium between international solidarity and social interests and economic policies in host countries; 2) The consequences of an ageing population on the labour market and pensions and health systems have an impact on the way in which migration flows are handled; 3) Immigrant workers in the 1960s (invited or Gastarbeiter) were not supposed to settle indefinitely in the host countries and were expected to return to their native countries as soon as they lost their jobs or retired. Their long-term futures were not given much concern; 4) Family reunification has become increasingly important, revealing a trend where migrant workers tend to settle in the host countries permanently; 5) The effective means to extend social protection to categories hitherto unprotected must be extended (women sacked when getting married or pregnant); 6) At a European level, the field of the Council of Europe's legal instruments must be broadened and improved to better protect the social security rights of migrant workers and raise awareness that workers are not simply "invited" but must be integrated into the host societies in order to avoid discrimination and social exclusion.
Social partners and NGOs attended the Ministerial Social Security Conference on
migrant workers' social security rights, as observers for the first time
During a hearing held on 21 May with the Committee of Senior European Civil Servants (representatives of the Ministers in charge of social security), representatives from the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and NGOs were pleased to be invited to the Ministerial conference and described it as an "innovation" due to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Walter Schwinner, (the representative of UNICE declined the invitation, as he had a previous engagement in Brussels). ETUC Special Adviser, Henri Lourdelle, presented the ETUC's priorities in this field and pointed out the importance of "informing workers of their rights, because these rights exist and they are not aware". Commenting on the Schulte report, Henri Lourdelle made the following points: 1) The right of family reunification: Social Security Ministers must make a commitment to ensuring that migrant workers are protected, particularly the destitute and those working in the construction industry, hotel and catering (often underqualified and with a high turnover of staff); 2) Effective equal treatment between those coming from countries that have signed the Social Charter: the European Committee for Social Rights and the Committee for Social Security must work together to attain this objective. The ETUC welcomed the, "adoption during the Laeken Summit, of the Resolution extending Regulation 1408/71 to workers from third countries who are legally employed in the EU, which is sending out the right message to the Council of Europe"; 3) Illegal immigrants. Member States must sanction illegal immigrant trafficking networks and not just the illegal immigrants; 4) Health care - this should be guaranteed; 5) The development of social security systems towards a form of privatisation: "It is urgent that that Ministers and governments agree on a certain number of objectives…to guarantee a social security system worthy of the name". Jean-Marie Heydt, President of the Group for Social Rights, the European Social Charter, Employment and Social Policy of NGOs that have a consultative status at the Council of Europe, stressed that, "social protection is the initial investment in social cohesion that allows urban tension and human tragedies to be avoided". He called for an end to all discriminatory provisions based on nationality. On the other hand, Mr Heydt raised the question of compulsory "integration" for migrant workers, preferring the term "insertion" in a lasting and living community.