About: employment
Future of work – how has the COVID-19 pandemic re-shaped the agenda?
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries had experienced transformations in their labour and jobs markets as a consequence of technological progress, climate change, globalisation, and shifts in demography.
Spanish capital unveils €3.9 billion plan to make Madrid ‘best place to live’
Madrid’s conservative mayor, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, has announced an ambitious plan to make the Spanish capital “the best city to live and work in 2030”, thanks to an initial investment of €3.9 billion of EU money, EURACTIV’s partner EFE reports.
Spain in race against the clock to extend furlough schemes
Spain's employer’s association has rejected a latest proposal by Social Security Minister José Luis Escrivá to extend pandemic-era temporary lay-off schemes known as ERTE - protecting some 600,000 jobs - beyond the 31 May deadline. EURACTIV’s partner EFE reports.
France to offer 2,000 ‘EU-themed’ civic service placements from 2022
The French government announced in early May the creation of 2,000 civic services focusing on Europe per year from 2022. EURACTIV France reports.
Spain planning reforms to access EU funding sooner
The Spanish government is currently drafting a detailed “road map” of reforms – including changes to pensions and the country's labour law – in order to speed up access to EU funding and mitigate the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. EURACTIV’s partner EFE reports.
Commission warns against the risk of the COVID19 becoming a social crisis
The economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic has hit the European economy hard, but not equally across all countries and sectors, and the fragmentation could lead to a social crisis, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights Nicolas Schmit warned on Wednesday (20 May).
How to solve the crisis? Strengthen workers’ voices.
In a matter of a few weeks, the political challenges facing Europe have changed dramatically, with the unfolding health and economic crisis. In the previous economic turmoil, our collective response was to weaken the rights of the worker. This time it must be different, argue Danish MEPs Marianne Vind, Nikolaj Villumsen and Kira Marie Peter-Hansen.
French agricultural sector wants to change image to convince consumers
With this year's Salon International de l'Agriculture taking place in Paris soon, the image of the agricultural sector is at the heart of farmers' concerns, as they are struggling to recruit and complaining about so-called agribashing, a trend of disparaging farmers and their work. EURACTIV France reports.
The disengaged youth, a pending challenge in the EU
The financial crisis of the previous decade was particularly hard on young people. However, as the latest data shows, 15% of young Europeans are neither at work nor studying (NEETs), which means this remains a structural issue.
French government institute welcomes idea of a CAP supporting farmers’ jobs
In a report presented in Paris on 23 October, the government institution France Stratégie proposed to support employment in the agricultural sector rather than the amount of cultivated land. But for this to become reality, a complete overhaul of the EU's Common Agricultural Policy is needed. EURACTIV France reports.
First clashes liven up last EU Spitzenkandidat debate ahead of election
The six lead candidates of the main political parties laid out their visions of Europe on Wednesday evening (15 May), clashing over jobs and climate change in their last televised debate before the EU elections.
MEPs approve the creation of the European Labour Authority
On Tuesday (16 April), MEPs approved the creation of a European Labour Authority, as well as several positions that favour the rights of European workers and combat social dumping. But major changes still need to be made. EURACTIV France reports.
Time to make French industry young again, suggests French education official
Gabriel Attal, the secretary of state at France's ministry of education, expounds on two of his favourite topics: developing the relationship between schools and SMEs and facilitating patronage. An interview with Gabriel Attal by EURACTIV France’s media partner La Tribune.
The European Social Pillar is creating a new political dynamic, but is this enough?
On the anniversary of the establishment of the European Social Pillar, Maria João Rodrigues takes stock of the development of the related directives and the further steps that are still needed.
European Parliament strengthens European social pillar
The European Parliament has been working hard on the EU’s social policy, voting in favour of establishing a “European social watchdog” and coordinating social security systems on 20 November. EURACTIV France reports.
France becoming more attractive to German investors
While German companies already have a strong presence in France, more and more of them want to invest in the country, attracted by the French government’s digital policy, among other reasons. EURACTIV France reports.
Can Poland catch up with the West on digitisation?
Acceleration of technological development provides huge opportunities for qualified employees. In an interview with EURACTIV Poland, Christian Bodewig from the World Bank Group explains how non-routine skills and competences not yet possessed by machines become increasingly relevant.
Schools of tomorrow – building and transforming skills for a digital world
Europe’s bid to lead the digital and advanced technology trend will be lost if the EU and national governments don’t take steps to make skills development in digitisation their priority. Digital skills need to be conveyed at all levels and in all forms of education to ensure Europe’s global position, writes Martina Dlabajová.
Work 4.0 – opportunities and risks
Digitization is on everyone’s lips and will change the working world in the next couple of years. For employers this poses a range of risks – but could also open some chances, as a recent analysis shows. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Sectoral Social Dialogue: The promising side of industrial relations in the EU
The 44 Sectoral Social Dialogue Committees promote better working conditions in sectors as varied as the chemical industry or the footwear sector. It enjoys a lot of support and has received rave reviews but currently only affects a limited number of sectors. EURACTIV.fr reports.
What freedom of movement means to business
Although the question of European nationals in the UK has been addressed, the fate of UK nationals working in the EEA still remains unknown. It's a pressing topic for EU and UK businesses, writes Robert Glick.
The end of European labour agreements?
Barely a dozen sectoral agreements have been finalised ever since social dialogue was established in Europe. The social partners’ contradictory objectives and the progressive disinvestment of the European Commission are to blame for this.
Serbs think German investors are the best employers
A third of Serbians think that German companies are the best investors and that a job at a German firm guarantees a good salary and working conditions, job safety and career advancement. EURACTIV Serbia reports.