Six years after the beginning of the financial crisis, and four years into the Europe 2020 Strategy, the employment and social situation in Europe keeps deteriorating, with devastating consequences including increasing poverty and social exclusion. The slow economic recovery is not being felt by the millions of unemployed, people in precarious jobs or suffering from, or at risk of poverty. At this rate, the Europe 2020 employment target will not be met, and the poverty reduction target is undermined by a proliferation of punitive activation practices, attacks on workers’ rights, and a downward pressure on wages and job quality, while inclusive labour markets remain a distant objective. How can we bring back the quality dimension in the European employment debate, and make sure that it delivers on reducing poverty, promoting social cohesion, and ensuring a sustainable economic recovery?
The event was opened by MEP Judith KIRTON-DARLING, S&D Member.
- Hélder FERREIRA, Sociologist, European Anti-Poverty Network made a presentation of the situation on the ground, including an analysis of policy responses at national and EU level, and their impact on decent work and poverty – The reality of quality of work and employment on the ground over the past 5 years
- Barbara HELFFERICH, Director, European Anti-Poverty Network – Making the link with Europe 2020 and the Mid-Term Review
- Q & A session
15h30 – Trade Unions
- Luca VISENTINI, Confederal Secretary, European Trade Union Confederation presented ETUC Briefing on Austerity and the Alternatives
- Friederike POSSELT, Head of Division Collective Bargaining Coordination, DGB – German Confederation of Trade Unions DGB trade unions: ETUC – Campaigning for a Statutory Minimum Wage
- Q & A session
16h15 – EU institutions
- Detlef ECKERT, Director, DG Employment, Europe 2020: employment policies, European Commission
- Jutta STEINRUCK, S&D Coordinator, EMPL Committee, European Parliament
16h45 – Debate with the audience
17h20 – Closing remarks by Judith KIRTON-DARLING,S&D Member
See also:
S&D – Europe Back to Work A 10-POINT PLAN for Change
ETUC: Wages and Collective Bargaining for Growth and Stability (Athens, April 2014)
See also EAPN’s Explainer on Quality Work and Employment in the EU, Feb 2014.
See here the Poster presentation and the Agenda.
Interpretation was provided in EN, FR, IT, DE, ES
