EU positive labour market

“More and more people in Europe are able to find a job and we witness the highest employment level ever recorded. Europe is reaping the benefits of targeted policy reforms. At the same time we need to address further challenges. We must ensure fair working conditions and protection for all workers, independent of their employment status. On the basis of the European Pillar of Social Rights, which we launched on 26 April, we are working to modernise the rules on employment contracts and social protection to achieve better working and living conditions across the EU.”  Commented Marianne Thyssen, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility.

Employment has never been so high with more than 235 million Europeans in jobs. Report shows increased wage growth: https://t.co/AON1pbr0Ps pic.twitter.com/VCXcaJ6GHx

— European Commission (@EU_Commission) October 13, 2017

The Commission published its yearly report on Labour Market and Wage Developments in Europe. This year’s edition confirms the positive labour market trends that have been witnessed in the EU. EU employment has surpassed pre-crisis levels with more than 235 million people at work. Unemployment which now stands at 7.6% is also approaching levels prior to the recession. In addition, the report shows that it has become easier for unemployed people to find a job, and that wages increased in almost all Member States – in the euro area they rose by 1.2% in 2016. On the other hand, more flexible working arrangements have brought advantages to both firms and individuals, but have led in some cases to a divide between workers holding different types of contracts, with people in temporary employment and self-employment being less well protected.

EU-seafarers: improving working conditions

“Maritime transport remains crucial for Europe’s economic development. Today’s proposal will strengthen seafarers’ protection and underpin fair competition in the maritime sector. Improved working conditions will also make the shipping sector more attractive for young Europeans. This proposal is an excellent example of how social partners support the Commission in keeping EU law fit for purpose.” Said Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility, Marianne Thyssen.

The European Commission is proposing that an agreement between social partners to improve the working conditions of seafarers on board of EU-flagged vessels, be enshrined in EU law.

Both better protection of workers, including seafarers, and social dialogue are priority! #SocialRights https://t.co/PHfBYl0bYE

— Marianne Thyssen (@mariannethyssen) July 27, 2017

The European Commission is proposing that an agreement between social partners to improve the working conditions of seafarers on board of EU-flagged vessels, be enshrined in EU law. The proposal will ensure that seafarers are better protected against abandonment in foreign ports in the future, and will strengthen their rights to compensation in the event of death or long-term disability due to an occupational injury, illness or hazard.

The global nature of the shipping industry, with different national laws applying depending on the state of the ship owner, the flag state of the vessel or the nationality of the crew, make it difficult for seafarers to get speedy and satisfactory redress in case of abandonment, injury or death. What the Commission is proposing are improvements to the existing system.

The proposal will improve seafarers’ protection in the event of abandonment, including when the ship owner fails to pay contractual wages for a period of at least two months, or when the ship owner has left the seafarer without the necessary maintenance and support to execute ship operations. This will not only benefit seafarers themselves, but also all EU port authorities, as it will result in fewer problematic cases of abandonment.

The proposal will also improve the mechanisms by which compensation is provided. This will make the payment of claims quicker and easier, which will help avoid the long delays in payment and red tape that seafarers or their families frequently encounter in case of abandonments or in case of death or long-term disability resulting from accidents or illness at work.

New rules for EU blue card

“The purpose of the Blue Card is to attract highly qualified workers to Europe. The number of specialists and economic transformers in the world is limited and the competition for them is strong. Making them choose Europe will strengthen our competitiveness and contribute to economic growth”, said Andres Anvelt, minister of interior of Estonia, which currently holds the Council presidency.

Last Coreper II meeting before September: #migration, next #JHA council, #EUBlueCard and summits on the agenda. Next meeting on September 6 pic.twitter.com/rDaAtR2Rer

— EU2017EE (@EU2017EE) July 26, 2017

The Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper) agreed on a mandate for negotiations on a draft directive covering entry and residence conditions for highly qualified workers coming from third countries (blue card directive). Based on this mandate, the Council presidency will start negotiations with the European Parliament.

 “A common European residence and work permit that will facilitate and make conditions more flexible is necessary if we want to compete with the American green card or the Canadian point system”, minister Anvelt added.

The reform of the blue card directive aims at making it more attractive for highly qualified workers from third countries to come to work in the EU. It will also aim to improve their mobility between jobs in different member states. It would replace the existing blue card directive, harmonising further conditions of entry and residence and improving the situation of highly qualified workers by the following means:

providing more inclusive admission criteria, including by reducing the salary threshold that member states can set for the admission of third-country nationals and establishing that member states may apply a lower minimum salary rule also to recent graduates, as well as by reducing the minimum length of the work contract to six months
making the procedures faster, in particular by introducing the possibility to apply simplified procedures for recognised employers
establishing that member states may allow EU blue card holders to engage in parallel in self-employed activities or professional activities other than their main activity
facilitating intra-EU mobility, including by reducing the minimum period of legal residence in the first member state
extending its scope to include non-EU family members of EU citizens and in certain cases, also beneficiaries of international protection
The European Commission presented the proposal for a new blue card directive in June 2016 as part of the EU’s efforts to develop a comprehensive migration policy, including in the area of legal migration.

Positive trends of Eu employment in 2017

“This annual review shows once again that we are firmly on the path towards more jobs and growth. However, today’s young and their children may end up worse off than their parents. This is not what we want. Swift action is needed. With the European Pillar of Social Rights we want to preserve and improve our social standards and living conditions for future generations.” Commented Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility, Marianne Thyssen.

Missed the Press Conference on the 2017 review of Employment and social developments in Europe? Watch its highlights! 📽️ ⤵️ #ESDE2017 pic.twitter.com/NtwJ46zIGY

— EU Social (@EU_Social) July 17, 2017

The Commission published the 2017 edition of its yearly Employment and Social Developments in Europe (ESDE) review. This year’s edition confirms positive labour market and social trends and continued economic growth. With over 234 million people having a job, employment has never been as high as today in the EU and unemployment is at its lowest level since December 2008. But looking beyond the overall social and economic progress, evidence shows that there is a particularly high burden, exacerbated by demographic ageing, on younger generations: they tend to have more difficulties in finding a job, are more often in non-standard and precarious forms of employment and are likely to receive lower pensions, relative to wages. 

This is why the 2017 ESDE review focuses on intergenerational fairness: we need to make sure that all generations benefit from the current positive economic trends and that young people in Europe will have at least the same opportunities as their parents.  The annual Employment and Social Developments in Europe review reports on the latest employment and social trends, and reflects on upcoming challenges and possible policy responses. It is the European Commission’s main report to provide evidence and analysis and to review trends and upcoming challenges on the labour market.