The European Social Dialogue Creating Added Value Chemical Industry, Prague 23 March 2006 Markus Handke, European Commission, DG Employment & Social Affairs

Why a social dialogue? Bargaining area (Joint initiatives) Good Governance (Consultation)

Social Policy Agenda Open Method of Coordination Employment Social protection European Social Funds European Social Dialogue Legislation Mobility - Gender equality Health and Safety

Towards a new era of partnership Commission Trade Unions Employers Commission Trade Unions Employers Commission Trade Unions Employers

The place of social dialogue at European level Institutional recognition Article 138 of the EC Treaty The European Commission promotes consultation of social partners at Community level facilitates their dialogue ensures a balanced support of both sides

The place of social dialogue at European level Institutional recognition Article 139 of the EC Treaty The dialogue between the social partners can lead, if they wish, to contractual relations, including agreements Barcelona European Council 2002 The European social model is founded on a healthy economy, a high level of social protection, education and social dialogue

Autonomous agreements: Understanding the mechanisms – Art. 138, 139 Legislative process Council Commission Social Partners Agreement implemented by a Decision LEGISLATION COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT No negotiation or failure Autonomous Agreement Consultation Opinions Negotiation

European social partners Cross-industry organisations (UNICE, CEEP, ETUC) Cross-industry organisations representing certain categories of workers or undertakings (CEC, Eurocadres, UEAPME) Sectoral organisations representing employers organisations or workers unions

What forms of European Social Dialogue? Macro-economic dialogue Dialogue on employment and social protection Tripartite Social Summit for Growth and Employment “Val Duchesse” Social Dialogue - Social Dialogue Summits, Social Dialogue Committee Sectoral Social dialogue Committees Tripartite dialogue Bipartite dialogue Company level: EWC

Fora for Tripartite Concertation Tripartite Social Summit for Growth and Employment (before Spring European Council each year) Macro-EconomicDialogue (DG ECFIN) ConcertationonEmployment(EMCO)Concertation on Social Protection(SPC) Trilogue on EducationandTraining (DG EAC)

Bipartite dialogue Voluntary Autonomous Commission support Cross-industry dialogue Sectoral dialogue 31 Sectoral dialogue committees established (Commerce, Agriculture, Banking, Insurance, Postal Services, Rail Transport, Construction…)

sectoral social dialogue committees

Topics addressed by the social dialogue

Demography The Commission Green Paper "Faced with demographic change, a new solidarity between the generations", adopted on 16 March 2005 The number of older workers (aged 55 to 64) will increase by 24 million between 2005 and The number of people aged over 80 will rise from 18.8 million today to 34.7 million in Social partners' initiatives Cross-industry (campagne) Construction Commerce (solidarity between generations) Contributions to the European Youth Pact Social partners' initiatives Cross-industry (campagne) Construction Commerce (solidarity between generations) Contributions to the European Youth Pact

Vocational training European employment strategy Objective: Increase and improve investments in human capital One worker out of two does not have access to vocational training Social partners' initiatives Cross-industry (framework of actions) Construction (tutoring) Banking HORECA Agriculture Personal services Employment per category of worker

Health&Safety European strategy for health and safety at the workplace Evaluation and preparation of new strategy Simplification and rationalisation of interventions Social partners' initiatives Cross-industry (stress) Construction (Guide) Agriculture (MSD) Sea fishers (accidents) Maritime transport (harrassment) Extractive industries (silica-crystalline) Poor and unsafe working conditions 3% of GNP 500 millions work days a year lost Accidents at work 4% of workers during the year

Restructuring Communication adopted the 31 March 2005 Second stage consultation of the Social Partners Social partners' initiatives Cross-industry (Orientations) Banking Textiles Sugar Social partners' initiatives Cross-industry (Orientations) Banking Textiles Sugar Employment – evolution in the last 25 years (millions)

Typology of social dialogue texts Declarations/OpinionsRecommendationsAgreements Consensus Information Follow-up Reporting Implementation Monitoring ex-ante evaluation monitoring

The need for synergies Tripartite Social Summit for Growth and Employment, macroeconomic dialogue, … Cross-industry Social dialogue Sectoral social dialogue committees Tripartite dialogue Bipartite dialogue Company level EWC

Employer organisation rate

> 55 % % % % < 15 % Union Density

BargainingCoverage More 80% Around 60% Less 40%

Enlargement Greater need for social dialogue Increased diversity Technical capacity of national social partners Technical capacity of European social partners Representativeness

Information sources Website of the Commission – x_en.htmhttp://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/inde x_en.htm EIRO ( European industrial relations observatory online) : –