Activities of Li ANDERSSON related to 2024/0599(NLE)
Plenary speeches (2)
Guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States (debate)
Guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States (debate)
Reports (1)
REPORT on the proposal for a Council decision on guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States
Amendments (13)
Amendment 4 #
Recital 2
(2) The Union is to combat social exclusion and discrimination, and to promote social justice and protection, equality between women and menall genders, solidarity between generations and the protection of the rights of the child as laid down in Article 3 TEU. In defining and implementing its policies and activities, the Union is to take into account requirements linked to the promotion of a high level of employment, the guarantee of adequate social protection, the fight against poverty and social exclusion, a high level of education and training and protection of human health as laid down in Article 9 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).
Amendment 11 #
Recital 5
(5) The Guidelines are consistent with the new EU economic governance framework, which entered into forccontribute to the full implementation of the European Social Pillar, the EU headline targets for 2030 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and are con 30 April 2024,sistent with the existing Union legislation and various Union initiatives, including Council Recommendations of 14 June 2021 (5 ), 29 November 2021 (6 ), 5 April 2022 (7 ), 16 June 2022 (8 ), 28 November 2022 (9 ), 8 December 2022 (10 ), 30 January 2023 (11 ), 12 June 2023 (12 ) and 27 November 2023 (13 ), Commission Recommendation (EU) 2021/402) (14 ), Council Resolution of 26 February 2021(15 ), Commission Communications on building an economy that works for people: an action plan for the social economy (16 ), on the Digital Education Action Plan 2021-2027 (17 ), on the Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030 (18 ), on the Disability Employment Package (19 ), on a European Care Strategy (20 ), on A Green Deal Industrial Plan for the Net-Zero Age (21 ), on strengthening social dialogue in the European Union (22 ), on Better assessing the distributional impact of Member States’ policies (23 ),and on labour and skills shortages in the EU: an action plan (24 ), Decisions (EU) 2021/2316 (25 ) and (EU) 2023/936 (26 ) of the European Parliament and of the Council, Directives (EU) 2022/2041 (27 ), (EU) 2022/2381 (28 ) and), EU 2023/970 (29 ) and EU 2024/1500 of the European Parliament and of the Council (30), and the Commission proposals for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 December 2021 on improving working conditions in platform work (30 ) 1), for Directives establishing the European Disability Card and European Parking Card for persons with disabilities (32), for a Directive amending Directive 2009/38/EC as regards the establishment and functioning of European Works Councils (33), and for a Directive on improving and enforcing working conditions of trainees (34) __________________ 5 Council Recommendation (EU) 2021/1004 of 14 June 2021 establishing a European Child Guarantee (OJ L 223, 22.6.2021, p. 14). 6 Council Recommendation of 29 November 2021 on blended learning approaches for high-quality and inclusive primary and secondary education (OJ C 504, 14.12.2021, p. 21). 7 Council Recommendation of 5 April 2022 on building bridges for effective European higher education cooperation (OJ C 160, 13.4.2022, p.1).) 8 Council Recommendation of 16 June 2022 on a European approach to micro- credentials for lifelong learning and employability (OJ C 243, 27.6.2022, p. 10), Council Recommendation of 16 June 2022 on individual learning accounts (OJ C 243, 27.6.2022, p. 26), Council Recommendation of 16 June 2022 on ensuring a fair transition towards climate neutrality (OJ C 243, 27.6.2022, p. 35) and Council Recommendation of 16 June 2022 on learning for the green transition and sustainable development (OJ C 243, 27.6.2022, p. 1). 9 Council Recommendation of 28 November 2022 on Pathways to School Success and replacing the Council Recommendation of 28 June 2011 on policies to reduce early school leaving (OJ C 469, 9.12.2022, p. 1). 10 Council Recommendation of 8 December 2022 on access to affordable high-quality long-term care (OJ C 476, 15.12.2022, p. 1) and Council Recommendation of 8 December 2022 on early childhood education and care: the Barcelona targets for 2030 (OJ C 484, 20.12.2022, p. 1). 11 Council Recommendation of 30 January 2023 on adequate minimum income ensuring active inclusion (OJ C 41, 3.2.2023, p.1). 12 Council Recommendation of 12 June 2023 on strengthening social dialogue in the European Union (OJ C/2023/1389, 6.12.2023). 13 Council recommendation of 27 November 2023 on developing social economy framework conditions (OJ C/2023/1344, 29.11.2023). 14 Commission Recommendation (EU) 2021/402 of 4 March 2021 on an effective active support to employment following the COVID-19 crisis (EASE) (OJ L 80, 8.3.2021, p. 1). 15 Council Resolution on a strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training towards the European Education Area and beyond (2021-2030) (OJ C 66, 26.2.2021, p. 1). 16 COM(2021) 778 final. 17 COM(2020) 624 final. 18 COM(2021) 101 final. 19 Disability Employment Package to improve labour market outcomes for persons with disabilities - Employment, Social Affairs & Inclusion - European Commission (europa.eu) 20 COM(2022) 440 final. 21 COM(2023) 62 final. 22 COM(2023) 38 and 40 final. 23 COM(2022) 494 final. 24 COM(2024) 131 final. 25 Decision (EU) 2021/2316 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 December 2021 on a European Year of Youth (2022) (OJ L 462, 28.12.2021, p. 1). 26 Decision (EU) 2023/936 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 May 2023 on a European Year of Skills (OJ L 125, 11.5.2023, p. 1). 27 Directive (EU) 2022/2041 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 October 2022 on adequate minimum wages in the European Union (OJ L 275, 25.10.2022, p. 33). 28 Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council (EU) 2022/2381 of 23 November 2022 on improving the gender balance among directors of listed companies and related measures (OJ L 315, 7.12.2022, p. 44). 29 Directive (EU) 2023/970 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 May 2023 to strengthen the application of the principle of equal pay for equal work or work of equal value between men and women through pay transparency and enforcement mechanisms (OJ L 132, 17.5.2023, p. 21). 30 COM (2021) 762 final
Amendment 21 #
Recital 7 – paragraph 1
Climate change, biodiversity loss and other environment- related challenges, the need to ensure a fair green transition, energy independence, enhanced competitiveness of net-zero industries and the need to secure Europe’s open strategic autonomy, as well as the development of digitalisation, artificial intelligence and the platform economy, an increase in teleworking and demographic change are deeply transforming Union economies and societies. The Union and its Member States are to work together to effectively and proactively address such structural developments and adapt existing systems as needed, recognising the close interdependence of the Member States’ economies and labour markets, and related policies. This requires coordinated, ambitious and effective policy action at both Union and national levels while recognising the role of social partners, in accordance with the TFEU and with the Union’s provisions on economic governance, taking into account the European Pillar of Social Rights. Such policy action should encompass a boost in sustainable investment across all EU regions, a renewed commitment to appropriately sequenced reforms and investments that enhance sustainable and inclusive economic growth, the creation of quality jobs, productivity, adequate working conditions, social and territorial cohesion, upward socio-economic convergence, resilience and the exercise of fiscal responsibility.
Amendment 34 #
Recital 12 – paragraph 3
A coherent set of active labour market policies, consisting of temporary and targeted hiring and transition incentives, skills policies including learning for the green transition and sustainable development and targeted, effective and adaptable employment services, is needed to support labour market transitions and make full use of untapped labour market potential, also in line with the active inclusion approach and in light of the green and digital transformationsas highlighted inter alia in the La Hulpe Declaration on the Future of the European Pillar of Social Rights (38 ). Adequate working conditions, including occupational health and safety, and both the physical and mental health of workers should be ensured. There is therefore an urgent need for a package on quality employment including legislative initiatives on decent working conditions with regard to telework, the right to disconnect, and artificial intelligence (AI) at the workplace; a revision of the directives on public procurement to ensure they promote collective bargaining; a “vision zero” approach aiming to prevent work-related deaths, including the prevention of hazards to workers from extreme weather caused by climate change and the need to speed up the setting of minimum standards for hazardous substances, as well as psychosocial risks at the workplace; a framework directive on minimum income schemes to ensure basic protection of persons in need and effective take-up of their entitlements; and climate change resilient safety nets integrating climate change adaptation into social protection programs and a framework for demand- driven direct employment initiatives. __________________ 38 La Hulpe Declaration on the Future of the European Pillar of Social Rights. La Hulpe, Belgium, 16 April 2024.
Amendment 58 #
Annex I – paragraph 3
Taxation should be shifted away from labour to other sourcescapital, notably by shifting taxes on wages to taxes on wealth, in order to be more supportive of employment and inclusive growth and in line with climate and environmental objectives, taking account of. Any tax reform should increase the redistributive effect of the tax system, while protecting revenue for adequatepublic investment, in particular quality public services, social protection and sustainable growth- enhancing expenditure.
Amendment 65 #
Annex I – paragraph 4
Member States, including those with statutory minimum wages, should promote collective bargaining on wage setting and ensure an effective involvement of social partners in a transparent and predictable manner, allowing for adequate responsiveness of wages to productivity developments, inflation and cost of living, and fostering fair wages that enable a decent standard of living, paying particular attention to lower and middle income groups with a view to strengthening upward socio-economic convergence. Wage-setting mechanisms should also take into account socio- economic conditions, including employment growth, competitiveness, purchasing power and regional and sectoral developments. Respecting national practices and the autonomy of the social partners, Member States and social partners should ensure that all workers have adequate wages by benefitting, directly or indirectly, from collective agreements or adequate statutory minimum wages, taking into account their impact on competitiveness, quality job creation, purchasing power and in-work poverty.
Amendment 69 #
Annex I – paragraph 5
In the context of the digital and green transitions, demographic change and Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, Member States should promote sustainability, productivity, competitiveness, employability and human capital development, fostering acquisition of skills and competences throughout people’s lives and responding to current and future labour market needs, also in light of the Union and national headline targets for 2030 on skills. Member States should also modernise and invest in their education and training systems to provide high quality and inclusive education and training including vocational education and training, improve educational outcomes and the provision of skills and competences needed for the green and digital transitions, and ensure access to digital learning, language training (e.g. in the case of refugees including from Ukraine or in facilitating labour market access in cross-border regions) and the acquisition of entrepreneurial skills. Member States should work together with the social partners, education and training providers, enterprises and other stakeholders, also in the context of the action plan to tackle labour and skills shortages put forward by the Commission in March 2024, to address structural weaknesses in education and training systems and improve their quality and labour-market relevance, including through targeted financial and technical support. The right to paid educational leave for professional purposes should be encouraged, in line with relevant conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO), which allow workers to attend training programmes during working hours. This would also contribute to enabling the green and digital transitions, addressing skills mismatches and labour shortages, including for activities related to net-zero and digital industries, including those relevant for the EU’s economic security, and those related to the green transition, such as renewable energy deployment or buildings’ renovation.
Amendment 76 #
Annex I – paragraph 7
Member States should foster equal opportunities for all by addressing inequalities in education and training systems, including in terms of regional coverage. In particular, children should be provided with access to affordable and high-quality early childhood education and care, in line with the new “Barcelona targets” and the European Child Guarantee Member States should raise overall qualification levels, reduce the number of early leavers from education and training, support equal access to education of children from disadvantaged groups and remote areas, increase the attractiveness of vocational education and training (VET), support access to and completion of tertiary education, and increase the number of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) graduates both in VET and in tertiary education, especially women. Top performance and excellence in educational outcomes should also be supported, given their role in fostering the future innovation potential of the EU. Mermber States should facilitate the transition from education to employment for young people through paid quality traineeships and apprenticeships, as well as increase adult participation in continuing learning, particularly among learners from disadvantaged backgrounds and the least qualified. Taking into account the new requirements of digital, green and ageing societies, Member States should upgrade and increase the supply and uptake of flexible initial and continuing VET, strengthen work-based learning in their VET systems, including through accessible, quality and effective apprenticeships, and support low-skilled adults maintain their employability. Furthermore, Member States should enhance the labour-market relevance of tertiary education and, where appropriate, research; improve skills monitoring and forecasting; make skills and qualifications more visible and comparable, including those acquired abroad, and ensure a more consistent use of EU-wide classifications (i.e. ESCO); and increase opportunities for recognising and validating skills and competences acquired outside formal education and training, including for refugees and persons under a temporary protection status. Beyond using the untapped potential of the EU domestic workforce, attracting talent and skills from outside the EU viaopening legal channels for managed migration and preventing exploitative working conditions by offering working conditions to migrant workers equal with those regulated by national legislation and collective agreements can also contribute to addressing skills and labour shortages, including those linked to the green and digital transitions such as in STEM sectors and in healthcare and long-term care.
Amendment 91 #
Annex I – paragraph 10
In order to benefit from a dynamic and productive workforce and new work patterns and business models, Member States should work together with the social partners on fair, transparent and predictable working conditions, balancing rights and obligations. They should reduce and prevent segmentation within labour markets, fight undeclared work and bogus self-employment, and foster the transition towards open-ended forms of employment. Employment protection rules, labour law and institutions should all provide both a suitable environment for recruitment and the necessary flexibility for employers to adapt swiftly to changes in the economic context, while protecting labour rights and ensuring social protection, an appropriate level of security,for the protection of labour rights, a high level of social protection and secure employment, inclusive recruitment, health and safety at work, as well as well-adapted working environments for all workers. At the same time, Member States should ensure a suitable environment for undertakings to thrive and thealthy, safe and well-adapted working environments for all worker flexibility for employers to adapt to changes. Promoting the use of flexible working arrangements such as teleworking can contribute to higher employment levels and more inclusive labour markets. Furthermore, Member States should support workers, businesses, and other actors in the digital transformation, including via promoting the uptake of ethical and trustworthly Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools. This can range from policies to upskill and reskill workers for new occupations and incentives for companies to develop and deploy technologies that have the potential to increase productivity, complement human labour, and alleviate labour shortages in critical sectors. In general, and in the digital context in particular, it is important to ensure that the workers’ rights in terms of working time, working conditions, mental health at work and work-life balance are respected. Employment relationships that lead to precarious working conditions should be prevented, including cases involving platform workers, by ensuring fairness, transparency and accountability in the use of algorithms, and by fighting abuse of atypical contracts. Replacement of regular employment relationships with non- standard forms of employment, bogus self-employment, bogus traineeships or other types of disguised employment should be prevented. Access to effective, impartial dispute resolution and a right to redress, including adequate compensation, where applicable, should be ensured in cases of unfair dismissal.
Amendment 94 #
Annex I – paragraph 11
Policies should aim to improve and support labour-market participation, matching and transitions, also in light of demographic change, and including in disadvantaged regions. Member States should effectively activate and enable those who can participate in the labour market, especially under-represented groups, such as women and youndg people, as well as people in vulnerable situations, such as lower-skilled people and the long-term unemployed, persons with disabilities, people with a migrant background, including persons under a temporary protection status, people from marginalised Roma communities and older workers. Member States should strengthen the scope and effectiveness of active labour-market policies by increasing their targeting, outreach and coverage and by better linking them with social services, training and income support for the unemployed, while they are seeking work and based on their rights and responsibilities. Member States should make the best use of EU funding and technical support to enhance the capacity of public employment services to provide timely and tailor-made assistance to jobseekers, respond to current and future labour-market needs, and implement performance-based management, supporting their capacity to use data and digital technology. Private employment services also play a role in this respectNational resources should also be made available by Member States to strengthen Public Employment Services.
Amendment 99 #
Annex I – paragraph 12
Member States should provide the unemployed with adequate unemployment benefits of reasonablesufficient duration, in line with their contributions and national eligibility rules. Unemployment benefits should not disincentivise a prompt return to employment andThis should be accompanied by active labour market policies, including up- and reskilling measures, also in light of labour and skills shortages, and with the support of mutual learning mechanisms between Member States.
Amendment 106 #
Annex I – paragraph 15
Member States should also strive to create the appropriate conditions for new forms of work, and working methods, delivering on their job-creation potential while ensuring they are compliant with existing social rights. They should provide advice and guidance on the rights and obligations which apply in the context of atypical contracts and new forms of work, such as work through digital labour platforms and permanent or semi-permanent teleworking arrangements. In this regard, social partners can play an instrumental role and Member States should support them in reaching out and representing people in atypical and new forms of work. Member States should also consider providing support for enforcement – such as strengthening the resources and capacity of the labour inspectorate and further measures such as guidelines or dedicated trainings for labour inspectorates – concerning the challenges stemming from new forms of organising work, including the use of digital technologies and of AI, such as algorithmic management, workers’ surveillance and telework.
Amendment 127 #
Annex I – paragraph 23
In a context of increasing longevity and demographic change, Member States should secure the adequacy and sustainability of pension systems for workers and the self-employed, providing equal opportunities for women and men to acquire and accrue pension rights, including through supplementary schemes to ensure adequate income in old agcent retirement income above the poverty line. Pension reforms should be supported by policies that aim to reduce the gender pension gap and measures that extendare based on active ageing through optimising opportunities for workers of all ages to work ing lives, such as by raising the effective retirement age, notably by facilitating the labour market participation of older persons, and should be framed within active ageing strategies good quality, productive and healthy conditions until the statutory retirement age. At the same time workers who wish to remain active after they have reached the retirement age should have the possibility to do so. Member States should establish a constructive dialogue with social partners and other relevant stakeholders, and allow for an appropriate phasing in of the reforms.