The first half of July was marked by several exchanges on the European social dialogue, both horizontal and sectoral, with the Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL) of the European Commission. How to ensure greater efficiency and wider coverage of employers and workers were among the focus topics.
The most recent meeting took place on 10 July at the final seminar of the Support2SME4SD project – Support to SMEs to strengthen Social Dialogue in the aftermath of the COVID crisis hosted by SMEunited. The event concluded two years of work aimed at improving the representativeness of SME employers’ organisations and strengthening their know-how to better contribute to cross-sectoral national social dialogue. Bringing together SME representatives from Greece, Malta, Italy, Slovenia, Romania, Cyprus, Lithuania, Belgium and Spain, the social partners involved addressed the economic and social consequences of the pandemic, combined with rapid changes in the labour market, with a view to identifying solutions and best practices to guarantee inclusive growth, create jobs and boost competitiveness. As a reminder, European SMEs account for 69% of the EU’s employment force and play a major role in social cohesion.
The seminar also provided an opportunity to exchange views with Stefan Olsson, Deputy Director General for Jobs, Skills and Social Policies at DG EMPL, on how to better involve SMEs and their representatives in European and national social dialogue. The new European Semester process and the Council Recommendation on strengthening social dialogue reaffirming the important role of SMEs were discussed, highlighting the scope for progress in involving SMEs in the design and implementation of the European Semester components.
In addition, Peter Kerckhofs, Research Director at Eurofound, presented the results of the study on the representativeness of cross-industry social partners, explaining in detail the different criteria. He also provided information on the ongoing and future sectoral representativeness studies, with the publication of the one dedicated to construction scheduled for November 2024.
This event was preceded on 5 July by the European Commission’s Liaison Forum meeting, which brought together the European sectoral social partners with Maria Luisa Cabral, the new Director for Working conditions and Social Dialogue at DG EMPL. The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange views on how to improve the effectiveness and inclusiveness of European sectoral social dialogue committees, in line with the Val Duchesse declaration, the Action plan on skills and labour shortages and the announcement of a Pact for Social Dialogue in 2025. Additionally, a conversation on the next steps of the Green Transition at the sectoral level took place with Yvon Slingenberg, Acting Deputy Director General for Innovation, Adaptation and Resilience, and Stakeholder Relations at the Directorate-General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA).
Our Secretary General participated in both given EBC remains committed to contribute to the sectoral social dialogue at European level, as the employer organisation representing micro-SMEs and crafts in the construction sector.
 Final seminar of the Support2SME4SD project © SMEunited | For more information on the European sectoral social dialogue committee for construction, click here. For more information on the Val Duchesse declaration, click here. |