FLEXIBILITY AND FLEXICURITY

Presentation by

Anna-Lena Börgö Etaat, Nordic IN

EESC seminar in Stockholm the 7 July 2009

SPEAKER

Anna-Lena Börgö Etaat

Nordic officer at Nordic IN (Industrianställda i Norden), responsible for collective bargaining policy

Member of the EMF Collective Bargaining Policy Committee and its Select Working Party

Nordic IN and EMF

Nordic IN represents 22 trade unions within the industry sector in the five Nordic countries

Coordination

Information

Lobbying

EMF (European Metalworkers´ Federation) represents 75 trade unions within the metal sector in 34 countries across Europe

External representation

Coordination

Mandate to engage in bargaining at European level

2-3 March 2007 SIMA conference, Lisbon 4

Percentage who think it is good for people to change jobs

every few years

2-3 March 2007 SIMA conference, Lisbon 5

The Traditional Flexicurity model: The Golden Triangle

Flexibility in employ-

ment

High level of unemploy-

ment benefit

Active labour market policies

16.September 2007 EMF Collective Bargaining Summer School

6

What is flexicurity?

Flexibility Security

Social dialogue

etc.

FlexibilitySecurity

2-3 March 2007 SIMA conference, Lisbon 7

The extended flexicurity model:Beyond ”the golden triangle”

Climate of continuous responsible social dialogue

Flexibility in employment and on the workplace

High level of unemployment

benefit

Effective collective

agreements

Active labour market policies

No exclusion from the

social systemTraining

Nordic IN Three flexicurity pillars

THE FIRST PILLARLabour market flexibility shall benefit both the employee and the employer, and systems for the facilitation of active flexibility should therefore be made between the partners in the labour market. A flexible labour market, however, needs the creation of new work opportunities. Because of that it is important to have an active and successful economic and industrial policy.

Flexibility shall be combined with a social security system that is always functioning, and is based on law and collective agreements. The model for the security system shall be chosen according to the traditions of each country, and can therefore vary from country to country.

Nordic INThree flexicurity pillars

THE SECOND PILLAR

  The responsibility for the social protection system shall be on the State and the employer. There is a need for strong partners in the labour market who shall actively, among other things, work for the social security system to be established and maintained. For this to happen, in every country there shall be systems that give strong rights for trade unions. This is important not least because the trade unions must successfully be able to act to protect that social systems are at an adequate and high level.

 

Nordic INThree flexicurity pillars

THE THIRD PILLARAn important support for all employees on a flexible labour market is training. The employee has to take responsibility for maintaining his own competence for the work his is doing. He also has to take responsibility for asking for training for future changes in employment, and profit from that training. This is also applicable on the situation that he needs training to get another employment.

The responsibility for enough resources for training lies on the state and the employer. Trade unions have to in an efficient way work for better rights for training, and to convince their members of the need to participate in training activities.

EMFCommon demands

2005: The first Common demand –

TRAINING

2009: The second Common demand –

AGAINST PRECARIOUS WORK