1. European Social Dialogue in the chemical sector
Bipartite Workshop Turin 9/12/09

2. Sector Social Dialogues
Altogether 37 recognised SDs on sector level
EMCEF is involved in 4: electricity, gas, extractive industries, chemical industry, (paper industry is on the way)
NEPSI is the intersectoral dialogue on Health and Safety (inhaleble crystalline silicates – „stone dust“)

3. Understanding of social dialogues
Labour relations in chemical industry on national level are usually well developed
Different roles of employers and trade unions are mutually understood and recognised
High awareness that social partners jointly could help to find solutions for challenges the sector is faced with
Not just social issues are on the agendas

4. Where did we start ? Since 2003 annual conferences on EU-level
Already before there had been multilateral project of social partners (ES, F, I)
On sector level first agreement between ECVM and EMCEF was signed in 2000
Memorandum of understanding on Responsible Care was signed between ECEG, CEFIC and EMCEF in 2003

5. Issues of annual conferences before 2003
Until 2002 annual conference had been organised by national social partners from different countries
Milan: Results of a trilateral Project on qualification
Berlin: Industrial Policy and chemical legislation
2002 – Paris: Qualification and Industrial Policy

6. Annual Conferences after 2003
Since 2003 annual conferences had been organised by ECEG and EMCEF
2003 – Madrid: Industrial Policy, Health and Safety
2004 – Helsinki: Qualification and Life-Long- Learning
2005 – London: Restructuring and skills needed
2006 – Krakow: Industrial Policy and REACH

7. 2004: Social Dialogue becomes „official“
On 14 of December 2004 official recognition of the social dialogue in the chemical industry was given by EU-Commission
First biannual working program was adopted in the 1. plenary-meeting on 3 of February 2005:
Education/Training/Lifelong Learning
Responsible Care
REACH/Health and Safety Management in chemical and Downstream Users Industries
had been issues agreed.

8. Social dialogue activities since 2005
Working groups had been set up in addition to the plenary-meetings:
To discuss issues of working program - 3 times a year
Additionally project applications submitted to EU-Commission with focus on further crucial issues

9. Restructuring, Managing Change, Competitiveness and employment in Chemical Industry
Project was supported by EU-Commission
2 Workshops 2007: Wiesbaden and Prague
Results had been discussed in annual conference 2007 in Lisbon
Documentation and conclusions available on USB flash drive incl. recommendations to SPs

10. Improvement of Health and Safety on the workplace
Project supported by EU-Commission
3 workshops (Brussels, Bratislava, Barcelona):
H+S in chemical industry in Western Europe
H+S in chemical industry in Central and Eastern Europe
H+S in agro-industry in Spain
Plenary meeting

11. Common statements of SPs in chemical industry
Statements are reactions on current EU- activities concerning chemical industry & its employees:
REACH: joint statements in Nov 2003 and June 2005
EU ETS, agreed upon in September 2009
Global Economic Crisis, agreed upon in May 2009

12. Common statements of SPs in chemical industry (2)
Joint Declaration of the Working Group on Education, Training & Lifelong Learning (March 2009):
Concerning introduction of layoffs & short time working in order to avoid redundancy due to global economic crisis
Measures should be accompanied by training & education measures to keep workforce
Call on EU, national & local governments to provide support for businesses & workforces

13. Common statements of SPs in chemical industry (3)
Joint declaration on global economic crisis (May 2009) referring to:
„Joint Lessons Learned on Restructuring, Managing Change, Competitiveness and Employment“ (2008)
Joint Declaration of the Working Group on Education, Training & Lifelong Learning (2009)
Propose measures to reinforce competitiveness of European chemical industry:
stronger EU policies, avoid high regulatory requirements, long term access to energy resources, etc.

14. Biannual Working Programs
Since 2005 biannual working programs had guided the SD-activities
3 main issues
Heath and Safety/Responsible Care
Competitiveness, Industrial Policy and Employment
Qualification and Lifelong Learning/Demographic Change
In 2009 another issue was added:
Improving capacities of SPs’ participation on national level and implementation of statements and activities of Social dialogue

15. Challenges for SDs in coming years
Economic crisis will not be over before employment does not increase again
Demographic changes requires initiatives especially on qualification in a broad sense
Industrial policy remains on the EU- agenda and will be have a substantial impact on chemical industry – Lisbon 2020

16. Thank you for your attention!