Brussels, 10/04/2007 (Agence Europe) - The Council of European Employers of the Metal, Engineering and Technology-based Industries (CEEMET) recently published its contribution to the debate launched in the Commission's Green Paper on “Modernisation of labour law to meet the challenges of the 21st century”. The deadline for submitting contributions to the Commission was 31 March. Businesseurope and the UEAPME had already presented their contributions on 15 March (EUROPE 9391).
In its contribution, CEEMET welcomes the fact that the debate is part of the framework of wider reflection on “flexicurity”. CEEMET considers that a well-balanced approach on flexicurity will result in developing an environment that helps the different national systems adapt to current and future challenges confronting Europe. CEEMET highlights the importance of non-standard employment contracts, such as temporary work contracts, which are in full expansion and which take both the interests of employees and employers into account. CEEMET also believes that harmonisation of labour law at a European level is not necessary. Consequently, metal industry employers see no need for a harmonised definition of “employment”, “self-employment” or “worker”, which according to CEEMET, would have serious repercussions on national legislation governing work and social security systems in member states. Neither does CEEMET see the need for setting up a “floor of rights” at a European level for all employees, without taking their employment contracts into account. Employers in the European metallurgical sector do, however, underscore the importance of supporting employees in the process of their transition from one job to another. For further information on the CEEMET contribution, see: (http://www.ceemet.org ). (gb)