The role of the European social partners and the European social dialogue
François ZIEGLEREuropean Commission
DG « Employment, Social Affairs and Equal opportunities »
Brussels,30 October 2007
Improving the role of construction SME ‘s in the sectoral social dialogue
SocialPolicy
Agenda
Open Method of CoordinationEmployment
Social protection
EuropeanSocialFunds
EuropeanSocial
Dialogue
LegislationMobility - Gender equality
Working conditions - Health and Safety
What forms does the European Social Dialogue take?
“Val Duchesse” Social Dialogue
Sectoral socialdialogue
committees
TR
IPA
RTIT
EB
IPA
RTIT
E EWC ?Transnationalagreements
Tripartite Social Summit
Macroeconomic dialogueDialogue on education
Dialogue on employment
Cross industry
Sectoral
Company
Auto
nom
ou
s
High levelgroups
What place for social dialogue at European level?A Strong institutional recognition
ART 138 of the Treaty
The Commission has a responsibility to promote consultation of the social partners
at community level and to take every useful measure to facilitate their dialogue,
taking care to ensure a balanced support of both sides.
The Commission consults social partners first
Social partners can engage into a dialogue
ART 139 of the Treaty
The Community level dialogue between the social partners can lead,
if they wish it, to contractual relations, including agreements.
The implementation can be made either by an EU instrument or through
national channels
… Article « 136 bis » of the next Treaty
Art. 138 & 139
Legislativeprocess
Council Commission Social Partners
Agreement implemented by a Decision
LEGISLATIONNATIONAL PROCEDURES
& PRACTICES
No negotiation
or failure
AutonomousAgreement
– to be implemented
by social partners
Extensionprocedure
Consultation
OpinionsNegotiation
European social partners
General cross-industry organisation&
Cross-industry organisations representing certain categories of workers or undertakings
ETUC, BUSINESS EUROPE, CEEP, UEAPME, CEC, Eurocadres
Sectoral organisations representing employersEUROCOMMERCE, AEA, POSTEUROP,
COPA, COTANCE, EURATEX, HOTREC, FBE, FIEC ...&
European trade union organisationsUNI-Europa, EPSU, EFFAT, ETUCE,
ETUF-TCL, EMF, EFBWW...
Specific organisationsEurochambres
European
Capacity to act in avoluntary way
Being composed by nationalorganisations recognised
as social partners
Adequate structures
Consultations 2007
• Cross-border transfers of undertakings
• Reconciliation of professional, private and family life
• Carcinogens, mutagens and reprotoxic substances
• Musculoskeletal disorders
• Active inclusion
Sea transportRoad transportCivil aviation
Inland navigationRailways
ElectricityGas
Personal servicesCleaning industryPrivate security
Life performanceAudiovisual
Professional cyclist
SteelShipbuildingAutomobile
Non ferrous metal
Textile/clothingTanning/leather
Footwear
HospitalsLocal government
Central administrationEducation
TelecommunicationsPostal services
AgricultureExtractive Industry
Sea fishing
HorecaCatering
Commerce
BankingInsurance
Construction
Chemical
WoodworkingFurniture
Sugar
Temporary agency work
35 Sectoral Committees
Autonomous Social Dialogue Agreement on Workers Health Protection
through the Good Handling and Use of Crystalline Silica and Products Containing it
- 25 April 2006 -
14 Sectors
Aggregates, Cement, Ceramics, Foundry, Glass fibre, Special Glass, Container Glass & Flat Glass, Industrial Minerals, Mineral Wool, Mines, Mortar, Natural Stones and Pre-cast Concrete
i.e. more than 2 million Employeesand a business exceeding € 250 billion
European social Dialogue outcomes
Socialdialogue
table
Better understandingConsensus building
Better capacity to promotethe sectoral interests
Capacity to act togetherin an autonomous way
European Commission
Social dialogue texts
Agreementsestablishing standards
Article 139.2 of the Treaty
Recommendationsconcerning standards
and principles
Exchange ofinformation
Framework agreements
Autonomous agreements
Frameworks of action
Joint opinions
Guidelines and Codes of conduct
Policy orientations
Declarations
Tools
Implementation
Follow-up at National level
InformationDiffusion
ROLES of actors
InformationDissemination
European social partners
European social partners
National social partners
National social partners CommissionCommission Member StatesMember States
Financial support
Implementation reports
Transposition
Follow-upreports
Implementationreports
Reference in national texts
Integration innational texts
Follow-upFinancial support
MonitoringFinancial support Facilitation
OpinionsDeclarations
OpinionsDeclarations
AGREEMENTSimplemented
by Council decision
AGREEMENTSimplemented
by Council decision
Frameworks of actionGuidelines
Codes of conductPolicy orientations
Frameworks of actionGuidelines
Codes of conductPolicy orientations
AGREEMENTS implemented
according to own procedures
AGREEMENTS implemented
according to own procedures
Consultation onimplementation
reports
6 Agreements establishing minimum standards implemented by
Council decision
• Framework agreement on parental leave, 1995
• Framework agreement on part-time work, 1997
• European agreement on the organisation of working time of seafarers, 1998
• Framework agreement on fixed-term work, 1999
• European agreement on the organisation of working time of mobile workers in civil aviation, 2000
• Agreement on certain aspects of the working conditions of mobile workers assigned to interoperable cross-border services, 2005
5 Autonomous Agreements establishing minimum standards
implemented by the procedures and practices specific to management and
labour and the Member States
• Framework agreement on telework, 2002
• Agreement on the European licence for drivers carrying out a cross-border interoperability service, 2004
• Agreement on Stress at work, 2004
• Social Dialogue Agreement on Crystalline Silica, 2006
• Harassement and violence at work, 2007
Implementation reports by the social partners