European Social Dialogue
Andrew Chapman
Directorate General Employment,Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities
European Commission
Instruments of Employment andSocial Policy
SocialSocial
AgendaAgenda
LegislationLegislation
Working conditions - Health and Safety
Gender Equality – Anti-discrimination
Open MethodOpen Method
of Coordinationof Coordination
Employment
Social Inclusion /
Protection
EuropeanEuropean
SocialSocial
FundFund
European SocialDialogueEuropean SocialDialogue
What is European SocialDialogue?
•Discussions, consultations, negotiationsand joint actions undertaken by the socialpartner organisations representing the twosides of industry (“management andlabour”, i.e. employer and trade unionorganisations) at European level.
Key principles for socialdialogue
•Freedom of association
•Pluralism of organisations
•Voluntary character
•Autonomy of the social partners
A Treaty-based instrument
•Article 138 EC Treaty:
"The Commission shall have the task of promotingthe consultation of management and labour atCommunity level and shall take any relevant measureto facilitate their dialogue by ensuring balancedsupport for the parties… To this end, beforesubmitting proposals in the social policy field, theCommission shall consult management andlabour…"
•Article 139 EC Treaty:
"Should management and labour so desire, thedialogue between them may lead to contractualrelations, including agreements."
Forms of social dialogue
Bipartite DialogueBipartite Dialogue
Employers – Trade UnionsEmployers – Trade Unions
TripartiteTripartite
ConcertationConcertation
Public AuthoritiesPublic Authorities
(Commission, Council) +(Commission, Council) +
Trade Unions + Employers Trade Unions + Employers
European Social DialogueEuropean Social Dialogue
SectoralSectoral
Covering workersCovering workers
and employersand employers
of 35 specific sectorsof 35 specific sectors
of the economy,of the economy,
Cross-industryCross-industry
"Val Duchesse""Val Duchesse"
Covering the economyCovering the economy
as a whole:as a whole:
workers (ETUC)workers (ETUC)
and employersand employers
(BUSINESSEUROPE,(BUSINESSEUROPE,
UEAPME, CEEP)UEAPME, CEEP)
European social partners – who arethey?
•1. Cross-industry – general social partners organiations
•2. Sectoral social partner organisations (examples)
•and others…
EmployersEmployers
Trade unionsTrade unions
Representativeness Criteria
Adequate structures
to ensure
effective participation
Recognised
social partner
at national level;
capacity to negotiate;
in all Member States
EU level
Cross-industry or
specific sector/category
1 Cross industry social dialogue committee
36 (+ 2) Sectoralsocial dialoguecommittees
Extractive Ind.
Sea fishing
Agriculture
Automobile (*)
Non ferrous metal (*)
Gas
Steel
Chemical
Woodworking
Textile/clothing
Tanning/leather
Sugar
Shipbuilding
Furniture
Footwear
Electricity
Construction
Football
Catering
Hospitals
Live performance
Insurance
Inland Navigation
Industrial cleaning
Horeca
Commerce
Civil aviation
Banking
Audiovisual
Temporary agency work
Telecom
Sea transport
Road transport
Railways
Private security
Postal services
Personal services
Local / Reg. government
SDC – How it works
Social
dialogue
table
Com
Decide on the rules of procedureof their dialogue (Objectives,Preparation, Presidency…)
Decide on the level and rhythm oftheir dialogue (Number and typeof meetings)
Decide on the content of theirdialogue (Agenda of the meetings)
Decide on the outcome of theirdialogue
The social partners"Autonomy andresponsibility"
European Commission
European Social Dialogue Outcomes
Social
dialogue
table
Better understanding
Consensus building
Better capacity to promote
the sectoral interests
Capacity to act together
in an autonomous way
Social dialogue texts
Agreements
establishing
standards
Article 139.2
EC Treaty
Recommendations
on standards
and principles
Exchange of
information
Framework agreements
Autonomous agreements
Frameworks of action
Joint opinions
Guidelines and Codes of conduct
Policy orientations
Declarations
Tools
Implementation
Follow-up at
National level
Information
Diffusion
European Commission
Integrating New Member States
•Social Partners from new Member Statesare eligible to participate in EuropeanSocial Dialogue from the date of accession
•Participation is arranged through theappropriate European organisations atcross-industry or sectoral level
•This is a matter for the Social Partnersthemselves
•Thank you for yourattention!
•More information aboutEuropean social dialogue:
