BETA Group Flexicurity: Putting Theory into Practice

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BETA Group Flexicurity Putting Theory into
Practice

• Lifelong learning
• Developing Social Dialogue
• Upgrading Active Labour Market Policies
• Strengthening Social Security
• Flexible and Secure Contracts

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BETA Group Flexicurity Putting Theory into
Practice

• Systematic Lifelong Learning to meet Labour
  Market Needs
• S Helps workers adapt to changing labour market
  and personal circumstances and enhances
  employability Good for companies if workers
  increase skills
• W Resources (financial and time), in particular
  SMEs
• O Cooperation between social partners (e.g.
  sharing costs for training) oriented towards
  individuals distinct needs
• T Brain drain lack of cooperation between
  labour market institutions and training
  institutions

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BETA Group Flexicurity Putting Theory into
Practice

• Developing social dialogue
• Srengths Social dialogue validates flexicurity
  (sustainability, credibility)
• Weaknesses Social dialogue platforms may be
  misused (negotiation instead of dialogue)
• Opportunities MANY! Social dialogue as a basis
  for implementing all aspects of flexicurity
• Threats No threats if social dialogue succeeds
  but potential for lack of consensus

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BETA Group Flexicurity Putting Theory into
Practice

• Upgrading Active Labour Market Policies
• Srengths Increases participation, productivity
  and reduces social exclusion
• Weaknesses Costs Difficult to assess direct
  impact becomes bureaucratic
• O Reduces social security Improve general
  wellbeing Country more competitive
• T Not enough flexibility in the system Churn
  (workers recycling through the system loses
  effectiveness) Creaming (providers and services
  usually take the best candidates keeping the
  furthest from the labour market out of the
  system)

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BETA Group Flexicurity Putting Theory into
Practice

• Strengthening Social Security
• Srengths Good instrument for keeping people (in
  particular vulnerable people) out of poverty
  during work transitions encourages risk taking
  reduces burden on small employers
• Weaknesses Possible dependence segmentation of
  groups reference periods can be quite long
• Opportunities Social cohesion in Europe and
  globally
• Threats Sustainability (financial, social)

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BETA Group Flexicurity Putting Theory into
Practice

• Flexible Contracts
• Srengths Helps companies adapt to changing
  circumstances Attracts foreign investment Can
  give workers ability to reconcile work and family
  life
• Opportunities Collaboration between social
  partners to develop negotiated agreements
  Opportunity to modernize labour law
• Threats Potential lack of safety mechanisms to
  provide security when a worker loses his/her job

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BETA Group Flexicurity Putting Theory into
Practice

• Secure Contracts
• Srengths Predictable for both workers and
  employers Gives protection against unfair
  dismissals
• Weaknesses May discourage employers from hiring