Employment is a key policy area for EAPN, given its inextricable link to poverty and social exclusion.
EAPN believes that employment does not automatically provide a route out of poverty, as one third of people currently experiencing poverty do hold a job. Quality of work (of a particular job) and of employment (the engagement with the labour market through one’s lifetime) are crucial issues for EAPN.
EAPN has been closely monitoring Employment policies since 1990, following the European Employment Strategy since 1997, as part of the Lisbon Strategy through the 2000s, and equally as part of the Europe 2020 Strategy as of 2010.
EAPN supports Inclusive Labour Markets, in line with the Active Inclusion strategy of the European Commission, and believs in supporting people, through personalised approaches and counseling, into quality and sustainable jobs. EAPN advocates for public investment in job creation, especially in sustainable, quality jobs that are accessible to people experiencing poverty.
We denounce the increased pressure put on the unemployed, through reduced coverage, duration and level of benefits, tightened eligibility, and punitive approaches using sanctions and conditionality, in an environment where jobs are lacking.
We equally denounce the downward pressure on job quality, including wages, duration of contracts, employment protection, social security, and the weakening of collective bargaining, brought about by the economic crisis and the austerity measures.
EAPN believes in tailored approaches to the labour market, that start from the individual and their specific needs and characteristics, and that lead those who can work towards decent jobs, offering real protection against poverty, as part of integrated, comprehensive pathways to broader social inclusion.
Documents
- EAPN collection: Combatting In-Work Poverty: Compendium of Promising Practices (2019)
- EAPN Response to the Annual Growth Survey Package 2019 (see especially the response to the Joint Employment Report, p. 12) (2018)
- EAPN Report: Assessment of the National Reform Programmes 2018: Make a participation a driver for social rights(see especially Chapter 3 – Employment Policies, p. 36) (2018)
- EAPN Position: The Future of Work – Labour market trends and their implications for risks of poverty and social exclusion (2018)
- EAPN Report of the 16th European Meeting of People Experiencing Poverty – Let’s tackle in-work poverty! (2017)
- EAPN Response to the Annual Growth Survey Package 2018(see especially the response to the Joint Employment Report, p. 8) (2017)
- EAPN Report: Assessment of the National Reform Programmes 2017: Social Rights or Social Plight? (see especially Chapter 4 – Employment Policies, p. 51) (2017)
- EAPN position: Inclusive Labour Markets – Building pathway approaches to quality employment (2017)
- EAPN Response to the Annual Growth Survey Package 2017(see especially the response to the Joint Employment Report, p. 7) (2016)
- EAPN Report: Assessment of the National Reform Programmes 2016 – What Progress on Social Europe? (see especially Chapter 4 – Employment, p. 49) (2016)
- EAPNTwo-Pager Leaflet on Raising Awareness on Living Wage (2015)
- EAPN Response to the Annual Growth Survey Package 2016 (see especially the response to the Joint Employment Report, p. 7) (2015)
- EAPN Response to the Long-Term Unemployment Consultation and Reaction to the Proposal for a Recommendation on the Integration of the Long Term Unemployed into the Labour Market (2015)
- EAPN Report: Can The Semester Deliver on Poverty and Participation? (see especially Chapter 4 – Employment, p. 38) (2015)
- EAPN Proposals on New Commission Integrated Guidelines: Economic and Employment (2015)
- EAPN Response to the Annual Growth Survey Package 2015 (see especially the response to the Joint Employment Report, p. 7 (2014)
- EAPN Explainer: Quality of Work and Employment in the EU (2014)
- EAPN position: Input to the crucial Mid-Term Review of the Europe 2020 Strategy (2014)
- EAPN Report: From Austerity to Inclusive Growth- What progress? (see especially Chapter 3 – Employment, p. 31) (2014)
- EAPN position: Youth Poverty and Social Exclusion in Europe (see especially Chapter 4 – Employment and labour market, p. 17) (2014)
- EAPN Report: Lifeboat or Life sentence? The Troika and emergency assistance programmes and their impact on poverty and social exclusion (see especially Chapter 3 – Privatization of public assests, business and labour market deregulation, p. 26, but also Chapter 5 – Risks of poverty and exclusion, p. 33) (2013)
- EAPN position: Working and Poor (2013)
- EAPN Report: Widening the Gap. EAPN analysis of the 2013 National Reform Programmes (see Chapter 3, Employment, p. 27)
- EAPN Report: An EU worth defending: beyond austerity to social investment and inclusive growth. EAPN analysis of the 2012 National Reform Programmes and National Social Reports (see Chapter 3, The Long Road Towards Inclusive Labour Markets, p. 44)
- EAPN 10 Principles on Quality Work (2011)
- EAPN Video: Pathways to Work – Unlocking a Door to Active Inclusion, positive and negative activation practices in the EU (2011)
- EAPN Response to the Draft Employment Report 2011
- EAPN Mag on Employment: Quality of Work for Quality of Life (2011)
- EAPN Report: Deliver Inclusive Growth – Put the heart back in Europe! EAPN Analysis of the 2011 National Reform Programmes, Europe 2020 Strategy (see Chapter 3, Progress towards Inclusive Labour Markets, p. 31)
- EAPN Book: Active Inclusion: Making It Happen! (see Chapter 4, Employment: supporting people into decent jobs, p. 41) (2011)
- EAPN response to the Flagship Initiative A European Agenda for New Skills and Jobs (2010)
- EAPN Response to the Draft Joint Employment Report 2010
- EAPN position on Skills and Mobility (2009)
- EAPN response to the Draft Joint Employment Report 2009
- See here related additional resources.
- See also: Employment policies: a general overview
