This week, the EU Parliament for the first time held an intensive debate on the EU Commission’s EURES proposal. The aim of the proposal is to turn the currently existing European Network of Employment Services “EURES” into an effective tool for job seekers and employers. A comprehensive pool of job offers and employee profiles shall be made accessible and transparent across Europe in particular to those, who are voluntarily interested in labour mobility within the EU. Nevertheless, there are still many open points.

Labour mobility within the EU lies at 0.29 %

In his deliberations, the responsible rapporteur for the dossier, MEP Heinz Becker, member of the Employment Committee, straightaway addressed the low labour mobility within the EU and said that, in view of the size of the labour market and the labour force within der EU, it would only lie at 0.29 %. The present EURES proposal was now aiming in changing this, in particular against the background that in spite of record unemployment in the EU there were still 2-3 million job vacancies to be filled. However, it has to be said that greater and maybe even forced labour mobility alone will not be able to solve this problem. Labour mobility within the EU is not a desirable objective in itself and must above all not become an end in itself. However, it makes sense to remove any existing hurdles and barriers, which prevent people who are interested in labour mobility and prepared to move, to look for or to accept a job in in another country. Promoting such voluntary labour mobility is part of the EU's responsibilities. However, it involves a clear “minority program”, so it would make little sense to force all job seekers and all companies with vacancies to adopt this pattern of Europe-wide job.

Private job agencies shall be integrated in the EURES network

What is new and in general supported by the rapporteur is that private job agencies shall also be granted access to the EURES network. However, the Chamber of Labour is clearly opposed to this proposal as private job agencies normally provide their services only against payment, which in turn might incur expenses for job seekers. At the same time, the EURES network is borne by national authorities, as the exchange of data would have to be carried out and to be financed by the national Coordination Offices (hence the public labour market administrations), based on which a publically subsidised profit for private job agencies would have to be expected. This cannot be the spirit and purpose of it.

Internships and apprenticeships shall also be included in the new EURES network

Both the drafts by the Commission and by the rapporteur provide for the inclusion of internships and apprenticeships in the new EURES network. However, the rapporteur tones this down by declaring that regular employment has to exist. The Chamber of Labour is opposed to a general expansion because one has to take into account that social and social law standards might be undermined. This view was also shared by a number of MEPs. The EU Parliament will hold intensive discussions on the draft report during the coming weeks. A vote shall take place in the responsible Committee at the end of March. The Council has already positioned itself and is now waiting for the result in the EU Parliament so that joint negotiations can be opened.

 

Further information:

AK Position Paper on the EURES Proposal

Draft Report by MEP Heinz Becker