For a Trade Union version of the New skills for new jobs initiative Round Table : « Employees faced with the stakes of training, transition and professional mobility » ETUC Conference September 2 nd /3rd 2010

1- What are the main challenges for employees?  To improve their competencies within their job and work  To have the possibility of a real professional carrer  To move from one company ( or sector) to another  In some cases to move through the different European countries  To succeed in the different types of transitions:  The entry into the labour market  The transition from temporary employment to a permanent contract  The solutions to redundancy and dismissal… 2

3  Through the good “mix” of knowledge and skills  Through relevant information about the changes concerning their job, the main trends about their company and sector : example of the recent THALES European agreement  Through regular career meetings inside the companies or outside  Through an appropriate guidance ( Management, Employment Services, local actors, unions...) : example of the learning representatives in Great Britain  Through training to garantee ongoing employability and “learning organizations” 2- « How to empower workers facing all types of occupational transitions? »

4 3- Three key points  The risk of a double polarisation of jobs : high skilled on one hand and elementary occupations on the other : how to improve the situation of low skilled people? ( See the New skills for new jobs EC Communication – and the synthesis of the 19 sector reports by Oxford Research)  The need to develop both initial education and continuous training : upgrading the skills only through initial education causes new difficulties – The example of the New Members States  The need to take in account the role of “learning outcomes” and to look for new ways to recognize them