Gary Dixon Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation 10/04/20131

Work Programme in employment & social affairs - achievements and challenges Presentation to European Chemical Industry Social Partners Conference 10/04/20132

The Irish, Lithuanian and Greek Presidencies Key Priority: Delivering on the Compact for Jobs and Growth agreed at the June 2012 European Council a welcome shift in focus from fiscal consolidation towards economic recovery, growth and job creation. Tackling the high level of unemployment across Europe, especially youth unemployment (“Youth Guarantee”). Promoting job-rich recovery – not just austerity. 10/04/20133

Priorities for 2013 (year of the Citizen) Facilitating Worker Mobility – Enforcement of Posting of Workers Supplementary Pensions (Portability) Enforcing free movement rights for mobile workers Recognition of Professional Qualifications 10/04/20134

Health & Safety Safeguarding workers from exposure to electromagnetic fields (“physical agents”) Commission proposals on the protection for workers using hazardous chemicals. Securing Council Decision to authorise Member States to ratify ILO Chemicals Convention (170) – on the safe use of chemicals (on the basis that those parts falling under EU competence are no obstacle to ratification). 10/04/20135

Irish Presidency Objectives for Europe 2020 – 3rd European Semester Reinforcing coordination and multilateral surveillance; Attention to “cross cutting” issues of shared interest to EPSCO & ECOFIN (e.g., pensions, wages, tax wedge on labour; Strengthening the involvement of the EU social partners in the European Semester – discussions on issues beyond just wage developments. 10/04/20136

Europe 2020 Strategy - European Semester - Who does what? 10/04/20137 Commission’s inputs to process (AGS/JER) Multi-lateral surveillance / Pressure Cooker of Council deliberations

Semester Process – where are the openings for involving Social Partners 1. Annual Growth Survey / Joint Employment Report Cross-Industry consultations at EU level before/after 2.Thematic Reviews of subject areas covered by Country Specific Recommendations (CSRs)  Education & training/LLL  Youth employment & Employment Protection Prospects for developing cross-industry EU level consultations 3. Preparation of National Reform Programmes (NRPs) Before/after consultations at national level 4. Implementation of CSRsIdeally there would be timely consultations at national level 8

3 rd Semester Calendar November 2012 : 2013 AGS and JER presented February 2013: EPSCO Council : 28 February (Brussels) o adopted conclusions on the Commission's AGS and Joint Employment Report o Confirmed Employment Guidelines (unchanged) for 2013 o Policy debate on the priorities for action in employment and social matters fed into the Presidency's synthesis report submitted to the March European Council. April 2013: Submission of National Reform Programmes May 2013: Commission puts forward draft CSRs June 2013: Sectoral Councils & European Council adopts CSRs 10/04/20139

Europe Irish Presidency’s application of lessons learnt in 2 nd Semester  Better and regular dialogue between MS and Commission during preparation of CSRs;  Clearer assignment of competencies and better cooperation between the different Council formations – to ensure that EPSCO can participate in the procedure on an equal footing with ECOFIN;  Need for holistic approach that does not focus purely on economic governance, but also fully integrates the social dimension and involves Social Partners;  Affording MS greater flexibility in CSR implementation and greater choice of the methods used to achieve the results.

Focus of CSRs addressed to Member States  Pension age; early retirement; promoting active ageing  Alleviating tax wedge / supporting low earners  Monitoring Employment Protection Legislation (EPL), combating youth unemployment and labour market segmentation  Supporting Youth Employment  Reviewing wage indexation and/or wage setting systems to allow wages better reflect productivity  Enhancing participation of women in labour markets  Boosting efficiency of Public Employment Services (PES)  Facilitating access to training/Life Long Learning

Social Dialogue and IE Presidency Informal meeting of the Presidency Trio with EU Social Partners 7-8 February (Dublin, Ireland). Involved in experimental EMCO dialogue with EU and national Social Partners on wage developments. Macro Economic Dialogue before ECOFIN Council 5th March. Tripartite Social Summit 14 th March. Promoting greater Social Partner involvement in Semester processes at EU and national levels. 10/04/201312

Social Dialogue related proposals awaiting initiative by Commission Collapse in December 2012 of cross-sectoral negotiations on revision of Working Time Directive – awaiting response of the Commission Revision of Tripartite Social Summit statute Revision of statutes of tripartite agencies: Eurofound (Dublin); Bilbao-OSHA; CEDEFOP (Thessaloniki) Sectoral Social Dialogue Agreements that can be made legally binding under Article 155(2)  Inland waterways (working time)  Hairdressers (health and safety) 10/04/201313

Many Challenges Ahead – Social Dimension of EMU On 14 December the European Council agreed that the roadmap for the completion of the EMU should include a social dimension, involving social dialogue. 10/04/201314

ROLL ON VILNIUS 10/04/201315