Brussels, 01/04/2011
The work of the social partners also shed light on the diverging approaches of the European Trade Union Confederation and the employers, and the difficulties of having a common message on this subject.
For the ETUC, the emphasis must be put on securing occupational careers. This also implies in particular stable and well protected employment contracts so as to avoid ‘bad job traps’ from being created.
However, for the ETUC the involvement of the social partners in charting and implementing active policies for the labour market remains a key message. The study and the conference confirmed that three partners are involved in this context. The commitment of the States, in particular in the transition phase or the management of short-time working arrangements, is decisive in terms of protecting the unemployed as well as in terms of vocational training policy. However, policies of the austerity imposed by the Europact lead to restrictions in this regard.
Joël Decaillon, ETUC Deputy General Secretary said “Flexicurity is a concept that is being used in every possible way. Flexibility does not create jobs and to put it at the core of the remedies to the crisis is a mistake. For the most vulnerable employees, young people or example, this approach boils down to making their jobs precarious.”