Tripartite Social Summit: All workers count!
2018-10-18 12:00
Earlier this week on Tuesday, October 16, the latest edition of the Tripartite Social Summit took place, bringing together the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and BUSINESSEUROPE, CEEP and UEAPME with European Commission President Juncker, European Council President Tusk and the Austrian Chancellor for the Austrian Council Presidency ahead of this week’s European Council to discuss about key challenges in employment and social affairs in Europe. CESI welcomes this dialogue with EU leaders but calls for a more inclusive framework of interaction in the future.
Under the heading ‘Reinforcing competitiveness, sustainable job creation and social fairness in the European Union’ the discussions of the Tripartite Social Summit this week focused on three main themes:
• The digital revolution and its potential for labour markets and the economy
• Implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights: stock-taking and way forward
• The Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 including InvestEU, ESF+ and the deepening of the EMU.
Luca Visentini, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), said: “We need a socially sustainable EU economic governance with increased public and private investment, social partners involved in the Semester and in European and national reforms, strengthened collective bargaining in all EU countries for a fair wage for working people.
A just transition must ensure workers hit by climate change and digitalisation are not left behind. EU legislation and the new EU MFF must support social cohesion and inclusion and full implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights.”
Klaus Heeger, Secretary General of CESI, the umbrella organisation of independent trade unions in Europe, commented: “We fully agree with Mr. Visentini’s statement. Minimum standards on labour law and social protection, fair mobility and transitions, the fight against precariousness and in-work poverty, investments in people and not least the proper interest representation of workers are a cornerstones of a social EU – especially in view of the emergence of new forms of work in the collaborative economy. CESI’s members attach great importance to this, because they are greatly concerned by it as well.”
CESI has continuously and consequently seized the principles established by the European Pillar of Social Rights, which picks up all of these challenges, by means of a plethora of advocacy initiatives, projects and conferences on core labour rights, adequate social protection and effective interest representation for all workers.
Accordingly, Klaus Heeger highlighted: “We are the ones who seize and implement the Pillar too! Since all workers count, more inclusive ways of policy deliberations have to be found. Because the future of work is also our future!”
Visual: The future of work – Our future © CESI 2018
