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BackThis week, the EU Commission launched a public consultation on corporate restructuring and its social consequences. The aim is to identify successful practices and strategies in the field of restructuring and the adoption to change, so that lessons can be learned from the economic crisis. The results of the Consultation will also be integrated into the planned and revived flexicurity agenda. Interested parties have until 30 March 2012 to provide answers to the questions of the Green Paper.
Millions of job losses are the consequence of the deepest recession for decades
The Commission outlines in its Green Paper that the prospects for the EU labour market have significantly deteriorated. There are even fears that the bearing, the recession has on unemployment, will have a lasting effect. It is to the credit of the creative and innovative cooperation of corporations and employees alone that an even more drastic loss of jobs could be prevented. To be able to maintain the strong level of employment and social protection, which continues to prevail in Europe, the Commission suggests that corporations shall be supported in particular in view of the rapidly changing economic circumstances. Labour representatives will have to make a considerable amount of effort to ensure that this will not be achieved at the expense of the workforce and to prevent any further flexibility of the labour market.
Social dialogue plays an important role in times of crises
It can be said that the social dialogue and collective bargaining have played an important role with regard to adjusting production, labour organisation and labour conditions to the rapidly changing and difficult circumstances during the crisis. Austria, Belgium and Germany are presented as showcase examples to demonstrate that based on the reduction of working hours, known as “short-time work” the employment levels could be maintained, in particular in times of crises. It will certainly be significant for the future to be able to estimate the demand for labour and qualifications at an early stage. To achieve this requires among other good cooperation between companies and vocational schools. However, success will only be achieved where mutual trust and a joint assessment of the situation between corporations and labour representatives exist. Every citizen has been invited to participate in the public consultation by 30.3.2012. One can only hope that the subsequent steps of the EU Commission will reflect these contributions.
Further Information:
Green Paper: restructuring and anticipation of change: what lessons from recent experience?
The Commission outlines in its Green Paper that the prospects for the EU labour market have significantly deteriorated. There are even fears that the bearing, the recession has on unemployment, will have a lasting effect. It is to the credit of the creative and innovative cooperation of corporations and employees alone that an even more drastic loss of jobs could be prevented. To be able to maintain the strong level of employment and social protection, which continues to prevail in Europe, the Commission suggests that corporations shall be supported in particular in view of the rapidly changing economic circumstances. Labour representatives will have to make a considerable amount of effort to ensure that this will not be achieved at the expense of the workforce and to prevent any further flexibility of the labour market.
Social dialogue plays an important role in times of crises
It can be said that the social dialogue and collective bargaining have played an important role with regard to adjusting production, labour organisation and labour conditions to the rapidly changing and difficult circumstances during the crisis. Austria, Belgium and Germany are presented as showcase examples to demonstrate that based on the reduction of working hours, known as “short-time work” the employment levels could be maintained, in particular in times of crises. It will certainly be significant for the future to be able to estimate the demand for labour and qualifications at an early stage. To achieve this requires among other good cooperation between companies and vocational schools. However, success will only be achieved where mutual trust and a joint assessment of the situation between corporations and labour representatives exist. Every citizen has been invited to participate in the public consultation by 30.3.2012. One can only hope that the subsequent steps of the EU Commission will reflect these contributions.
Further Information:
Green Paper: restructuring and anticipation of change: what lessons from recent experience?