European labour market
Youth employment
In 2009, the European Union had nearly 100 million young people between 15 and 30 years, about one-fifth of its total population. Young workers were often among the first to lose their jobs during the crisis. Thus, despite a stabilization of youth unemployment in the EU between 2005 and 2008, the number of unemployed youth aged 15 to 24 years has disproportionately increased, reaching a total of 5.2 million in the second quarter 2010 (by 20.4 % of the workforce in this age group), an increase of nearly a third from the beginning of 2008. Numerous studies show that entering the labour market during a recession may leave long-term "scars" on the generation of young people involved. A period of unemployment in early adult life has negative consequences both in terms of future employment and wage prospects.
In this context, the Council of the European Union adopted a Resolution on a renewed framework for European cooperation in the Youth field (2010-2018). This document defines the establishment of a dialogue between youth and policy makers on issues of European policy for youth. A structured dialogue with young people has been launched under the trio Presidency of the European Union by Spain, Belgium and Hungary, with particular emphasis during the 18 months of the Presidency on youth employment. The structured dialogue involves regular exchanges between the EU and young people, their representative organizations and researchers, through consultations and conferences.
Flexicurity
"Flexicurity" has been a key issue in European employment and social policy discussion and action for around two decades. The concept of flexicurity refers to an integrated strategy for enhancing, at the same time, flexibility and security in the labour market. It attempts to reconcile employers' need for a flexible workforce with workers' need for security confidence that they will not face long periods of unemployment.
As of 2008, the concept of flexicurity became an official European labour market policy of the European Commission, which has identified four components for its implementation:
- flexible and reliable contractual arrangements;
- comprehensive lifelong learning strategies;
- effective active labour market policies;
- modern social security systems.
CEC is also engaged in working on flexicurity by supporting the development of a European project on flexicurity launched in Italy by Fondirigenti, with the partnership of two CEC member organisations from Belgium (CNC-NCK) and Greece (HMA). The project aim is to disseminate information and exchange experience among parties involved in industrial relation on the issue of flexicurity, with particular reference to integrated services in order to support employment and development for managers and companies.
Reviewing the European Working Time Directive
February 2011
The working time Directive forms a cornerstone of social Europe by ensuring minimum protection for all workers against excessive working hours and neglect of rest periods. Over the last few years, several attempts to revisit the EU working time legislation have been undertaken, however, they reached an impasse in April 2009.
CEC welcomes the European Commission's initiative to consider further legislative action to shape the EU rules to changing working time patterns. However we highlight concern regarding the issue of permitted derogations to daily rest, maximum weekly working time, length of night work and reference period, which includes managers.
CEC pushes strongly for the enforcement of EU-wide binding rules and ensuring that points leading to uncertainty are clarified. The scope of derogation to the Directive should be defined precisely.
Click here to read the CEC answer to the European consultation.