Essence, role and importance of social dialogue in the EU

1
Essence, role and importance of social dialogue
in the EU

• Jackie MORIN
• 8 May 2008

2
Social Policy
Legislation Mobility Gender equality Working
conditions Health and Safety
European Social Dialogue
Social Agenda
European Social Funds
Open Method of Coordination Employment Social
protection
European Commission
3
RESPONSIBILITY
ART 138 of the Treaty The Commission has a
responsibility to promote consultation of the
social partners at community level and to take
every useful measure to facilitate their
dialogue, taking care to ensure a balanced
support of both sides. The Commission consults
social partners first Social partners can engage
into a dialogue
ART 139 of the Treaty The Community level
dialogue between the social partners can lead,
if they wish it, to contractual relations,
including agreements. The implementation can be
made either by an EU instrument or through
national channels
New Article 152 The Union recognises and
promotes the role of the social partners at its
level, taking into account the diversity of
national systems. It shall facilitate dialogue
between the social partners, respecting their
autonomy. The Tripartite Social Summit for Growth
and Employment shall contribute to social
dialogue.
4
European social partners
REPRESENTATIVENESS
General cross-industry organisation Cross-indust
ry organisations representing certain categories
of workers or undertakings ETUC, BUSINESS
EUROPE, CEEP, UEAPME, CEC, Eurocadres
European Capacity to act in a voluntary
way Being composed by national organisations
recognised as social partners Adequate
structures
Specific organisations Eurochambres
Sectoral organisations representing
employers EUROCOMMERCE, AEA, POSTEUROP, COPA,
COTANCE, EURATEX, HOTREC, FBE, ... European
trade union organisations UNI-Europa, EPSU,
EFFAT, ETUCE, ETUF-TCL, EMF...
5
AUTONOMY
New negotiations Framework of action Framework
agreement Parental leave revision
Joint analysis On labour Market Challenges
CROSS-INDUSTRY Social dialogue
Implementation Stress Violence Gender equality
6
1998 Commission Decision
Representativeness Criteria (membership,
mandate, structures)
Sectoral Val Duchesse Approach (Joint request)
Conditions
CDSS
- Consulted on community Policies - Social
dialogue
Rules of procedure Work programme At least one
plenary/year
Objectives
Functioning
European Commission
7
SSDC Quantitative evolution
Hospitals Steel
Shipbuilding
Gas Catering
Local government Audiovisual Chemical industry
8
35 Sectoral Committees (5 3)
Sea transport Road transport Civil
aviation Inland navigation Railways
Agriculture Extractive Industry Sea fishing Sea
Ports
Construction
Woodworking Furniture Sugar
Textile/clothing Tanning/leather Footwear
Commerce
Banking Insurance
Personal services Cleaning industry Private
security
Electricity Gas
Horeca Catering
Temporary agency work
Telecommunications Postal services
Steel Shipbuilding Automobile Non ferrous
metal Metal sector
Hospitals Local government Central
administration Education
Chemical
Live performance Audiovisual Professional
cycling Football
9
Hospital SDC
10
SDC How it works
The social partners"Autonomy and responsibility"
Decide on the rules of procedure of their
dialogue (Objectives, Preparation,
Presidency) Decide on the level and rhythm of
their dialogue (Number and type of
meetings) Decide on the content of their dialogue
(Agenda of the meetings) Decide on the outcome of
their dialogue
Social dialogue table
Com
European Commission
11
European social Dialogue outcomes
Better understanding Consensus building
Social dialogue table
Better capacity to promote the sectoral interests
Capacity to act together in an autonomous way
European Commission
12
7 Agreements establishing minimum standards
implemented by Council decision

• Framework agreement on parental leave, 1995
• Framework agreement on part-time work, 1997
• European agreement on the organisation of working
  time of seafarers, 1998
• Framework agreement on fixed-term work, 1999
• European agreement on the organisation of working
  time of mobile workers in civil aviation, 2000
• Agreement on certain aspects of the working
  conditions of mobile workers assigned to
  interoperable cross-border services, 2005
• Agreement on the maritime labour convention, 2008

European Commission
13
5 Autonomous Agreements establishing minimum
standards implemented by the procedures and
practices specific to management and labour and
the Member States

• Framework agreement on telework, 2002
• Agreement on the European licence for drivers
  carrying out a cross-border interoperability
  service, 2004
• Agreement on Stress at work, 2004
• Social Dialogue Agreement on Crystalline Silica,
  2006
• Harassement and violence at work, 2007

Implementation reports by the social partners
14
Recent works (examples)

• Agriculture - Reduction of workers exposure to
  the risk of work-related musculo-skeletal
  disorders
• Sea fishing guide for accident prevention
• Telecoms MSD dissemination of best practices
  / ergonomics
• Electricity - 2 Joint declarations on Stress and
  on violence
• Gas Joint declaration on violence at work
• Construction Joint recommendations / Prevention
  of occupational stress
• Private security follow-up of stress initiative
• Local government Guidelines / Gender equality
  plans
• Agriculture - Resolution on the creation of
  Agripass CV
• Construction Database on posting of workers
• Telecoms - Social and economic aspects or CSR
• Chemical Industry Skills for chemical business
• Post Joint declaration on training and skills
  development
• Hospitals code of conduct on Ethical
  cross-border recruitment and retention

15
Capacity building challenges

• Organisations
• Trade union density
• Employers organisation

Institutions Tripartite dialogue dominates
Coordination Sectoral / Cross-industry /
Company European / National
Expertise
16
(No Transcript)
17
More Information EUROPA website for social
dialogue http//ec.europa.eu/socialdialogue
Questions