Interview: Social partners still at odds over flexicurity[fr][de] 

Social partners are still at odds not only over the Nordic concept of flexicurity – the combination of flexible hiring and firing rules with high social protection – but also on the role and competences of legislators in employment matters, it has emerged from a three-way interview conducted by EurActiv.

Gerhard Huemer, director for economic and fiscal policy at UEAPME, the European small business association, believes that some degree of harmonisation is necessary at European level: "The EU does have the power to define minimum standards in the field of labour markets and social policies," he says, adding however: "Besides such minimum standards, we see neither the need nor the possibility to solve such questions at EU level."

But Marc Stocker, a senior adviser on economic and financial affairs with BusinessEurope, the European employers' association, is of the opposite view, arguing that "social and employment policies are the competence of member states".

"Flexicurity," Stocker points out, "is an appealing concept because it offers a way to restore a positive link between competitiveness and social protection."

"Globalisation and technological progress require responsiveness to deliver their full benefits, and hence finding new ways to combine social protection and economic flexibility is fundamental for more and higher productivity jobs," he adds.

Meanwhile, Ronald Janssen, advisor on labour-market policy at ETUC, the European Trade Union Confederation, urges the EU to put the brakes on social dumping within Europe. The EU, he says, "does have the power to build a level playing field to put a stop to internal market competition that is detrimental for workers".

And he fears that the whole flexicurity debate may eventually hide other objectives. "The real agenda hiding behind the 'flexicurity' wording simply seems to be the dismantling of job protection, thereby giving employers even more power to press for lower wages," Janssen says.

"So the central question is whether…employers' organsiations…will be willing to move into a real and meaningful dialogue on what should be the right balance between flexibility and security instead of simply pursuing narrow interests."

Click here to read the full responses to EurActiv's questionnaire on flexicurity.