Informal meeting of Ministers for Employment and Social Affairs - “Don’t let flexicurity become a risk to Europe”
John Monks, General Secretary of the ETUC said on the eve of the informal meeting of Employment and Social Affairs Ministers in Portugal on July 5 that “flexicurity risks becoming an issue that could lead many workers to conclude that it is all about flexibility (easy hire and fire, tough conditions on eligibility for unemployment pay) and not much about security in jobs and employment".
"Already, there was a widespread trade union feeling that “liberal” Europe is receiving too much encouragement, with the current emphasis on de-regulation, on encouraging entrepreneurship and on opposition to new labour standards at EU level. The social dimension of Europe is not keeping pace with the development of the internal market. The way that flexicurity was being promoted by some is confirming that feeling.
"Europe needs a new, strong social dimension to promote more and better jobs and also long-term employment relations and business perspectives. The flexicurity debates should focus on that and on protecting the most vulnerable, precarious workers like agency workers."
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