FlexicurityFlexicurity

Roles, risks and responsibilities of the Roles, risks and responsibilities of the social economy in the flexicurity modelsocial economy in the flexicurity model

Eurodiaconia Seminar on Flexicurity in Eurodiaconia Seminar on Flexicurity in Härnösand, January 30-31, 2008Härnösand, January 30-31, 2008

The European Commission Communication: Towards The European Commission Communication: Towards Common Principles of Flexicurity: More and better jobs Common Principles of Flexicurity: More and better jobs

through flexibility and security; 2007through flexibility and security; 2007 ””Europe must create more and better jobs, to manage change and Europe must create more and better jobs, to manage change and

new social risks. It must reduce segmented labour markets and new social risks. It must reduce segmented labour markets and precarious jobs, and promote sustained integration and precarious jobs, and promote sustained integration and accumulation of skills... New forms of flexibility and security is accumulation of skills... New forms of flexibility and security is needed.”needed.”

4 elements of Flexicurity: flexible and reliable contractual 4 elements of Flexicurity: flexible and reliable contractual arrangements, comprehensive lifelong learning strategies, ALMP, arrangements, comprehensive lifelong learning strategies, ALMP, modern social security systemsmodern social security systems

Introduces the draft common principlesIntroduces the draft common principles Stresses that there are different pathways to Flexicurity and the Stresses that there are different pathways to Flexicurity and the

cost-effectiveness of a Flexicurity strategycost-effectiveness of a Flexicurity strategy Pathways: Identifies different country-specific realities and advices Pathways: Identifies different country-specific realities and advices

how to use the 4 elements as a pathway to Flexicurity with how to use the 4 elements as a pathway to Flexicurity with reference to the country’s challenges (i.e. Large skills and reference to the country’s challenges (i.e. Large skills and opportunity gaps, people on long-term benefits etc) opportunity gaps, people on long-term benefits etc)

Country examplesCountry examples

Parliament resolution, November Parliament resolution, November 20072007

Promoting stable employment relationships and sustainable labour market practicesPromoting stable employment relationships and sustainable labour market practices Action for adaptable and reliable contractual arrangements and action against Action for adaptable and reliable contractual arrangements and action against

abusive labour market practices; especially in certain non-standard contractsabusive labour market practices; especially in certain non-standard contracts Breaking down labour market segmentation by promoting employment security and Breaking down labour market segmentation by promoting employment security and

improving job security; all workers shall have a core of rights regardless of their improving job security; all workers shall have a core of rights regardless of their employment statusemployment status

Reconciling employment and family or private life, and promoting the concept of Reconciling employment and family or private life, and promoting the concept of ”decent work””decent work”

Partnerships between government (at local, regaional and national level), social Partnerships between government (at local, regaional and national level), social partners and civil society in manageing changepartners and civil society in manageing change

Gender equality and promoting equal opportunities for allGender equality and promoting equal opportunities for all Designing and implementing national pathways in close consultation with social Designing and implementing national pathways in close consultation with social

partners, in accordance with national customs and practicespartners, in accordance with national customs and practices Enhancing companies’ and workers’ adaptability by strenghtening transition security Enhancing companies’ and workers’ adaptability by strenghtening transition security

by better mobilising active labour market policiesby better mobilising active labour market policies A skilled and adaptable labour force, combining active labour market policies with A skilled and adaptable labour force, combining active labour market policies with

invetsment in lifelong learning to enhance employabilityinvetsment in lifelong learning to enhance employability A macro-economic framework for balanced and sustainable growth and more and A macro-economic framework for balanced and sustainable growth and more and

better jobsbetter jobs

Council Conclusions, December Council Conclusions, December 20072007

(1) Flexicurity is a means to reinforce the implementation of the Lisbon Strategy, create more and better jobs, (1) Flexicurity is a means to reinforce the implementation of the Lisbon Strategy, create more and better jobs, modernise labour markets, and promote good work through new forms of flexibility and security to increase adaptability, modernise labour markets, and promote good work through new forms of flexibility and security to increase adaptability, employment and social cohesion.employment and social cohesion.

(2) Flexicurity involves the deliberate combination of flexible and reliable contractual arrangements, comprehensive (2) Flexicurity involves the deliberate combination of flexible and reliable contractual arrangements, comprehensive lifelong learning strategies, effective active labour market policies, and modern, adequate and sustainable social lifelong learning strategies, effective active labour market policies, and modern, adequate and sustainable social protection systems.protection systems.

(3) Flexicurity approaches are not about one single labour market or working life model, nor about a single policy (3) Flexicurity approaches are not about one single labour market or working life model, nor about a single policy strategy: they should be tailored to the specific circumstances of each Member State. Flexicurity implies a balance strategy: they should be tailored to the specific circumstances of each Member State. Flexicurity implies a balance between rights and responsibilities of all concerned. Based on the common principles, each Member State should between rights and responsibilities of all concerned. Based on the common principles, each Member State should develop its own flexicurity arrangements. Progress should be effectively monitored.develop its own flexicurity arrangements. Progress should be effectively monitored.

(4) Flexicurity should promote more open, responsive and inclusive labour marketsovercoming segmentation. It (4) Flexicurity should promote more open, responsive and inclusive labour marketsovercoming segmentation. It concerns both those in work and those out of work. The inactive, the unemployed, those in undeclared work, in unstable concerns both those in work and those out of work. The inactive, the unemployed, those in undeclared work, in unstable employment, or at the margins of the labour market need to be provided with better opportunities, economic incentives employment, or at the margins of the labour market need to be provided with better opportunities, economic incentives and supportive measures for easier access to work or stepping-stones to assist progress into stable and legally secure and supportive measures for easier access to work or stepping-stones to assist progress into stable and legally secure employment. Support should be available to all those in employment to remain employable, progress and manage employment. Support should be available to all those in employment to remain employable, progress and manage transitions both in work and between jobs.transitions both in work and between jobs.

(5) Internal (within the enterprise) as well as external flexicurity are equally important and should be promoted. (5) Internal (within the enterprise) as well as external flexicurity are equally important and should be promoted. Sufficient contractual flexibility must be accompanied by secure transitions from job to job. Upward mobility needs to be Sufficient contractual flexibility must be accompanied by secure transitions from job to job. Upward mobility needs to be facilitated, as well as between unemployment or inactivity and work. High-quality and productive workplaces, good facilitated, as well as between unemployment or inactivity and work. High-quality and productive workplaces, good organisation of work, and continuous upgrading of skills are also essential. Social protection should provide incentives organisation of work, and continuous upgrading of skills are also essential. Social protection should provide incentives and support for job transitions and for access to new employment.and support for job transitions and for access to new employment.

(6) Flexicurity should support gender equality, by promoting equal access to quality employment for women and men (6) Flexicurity should support gender equality, by promoting equal access to quality employment for women and men and offering measures to reconcile work, family and private life.and offering measures to reconcile work, family and private life.

(7) Flexicurity requires a climate of trust and broadly-based dialogue among all stakeholders, where all are prepared to (7) Flexicurity requires a climate of trust and broadly-based dialogue among all stakeholders, where all are prepared to take the responsibility for change with a view to socially balanced policies. While public authorities retain an overall take the responsibility for change with a view to socially balanced policies. While public authorities retain an overall responsibility, the involvement of social partners in the design and implementation of flexicurity policies through social responsibility, the involvement of social partners in the design and implementation of flexicurity policies through social dialogue and collective bargaining is of crucial importance.dialogue and collective bargaining is of crucial importance.

(8) Flexicurity requires a cost effective allocation of resources and should remain fully compatible with sound and (8) Flexicurity requires a cost effective allocation of resources and should remain fully compatible with sound and financially sustainable public budgets. It should also aim at a fair distribution of costs and benefits, especially between financially sustainable public budgets. It should also aim at a fair distribution of costs and benefits, especially between businesses, public authorities and individuals, with particular attention to the specific situation of SMEs.businesses, public authorities and individuals, with particular attention to the specific situation of SMEs.

Next steps according to the CouncilNext steps according to the Council

Common principles part of the Lisbon Common principles part of the Lisbon strategy and the Integrated guidelines for strategy and the Integrated guidelines for jobs and growth; reporting on progress in jobs and growth; reporting on progress in the National Reform Programmesthe National Reform Programmes

Social Partners encouraged to refer to Social Partners encouraged to refer to principles in common bargainingprinciples in common bargaining

Mutual learning between member states Mutual learning between member states stressedstressed

Creation of ownership on national and Creation of ownership on national and European level emphasisedEuropean level emphasised

Council and Commission to use indicators Council and Commission to use indicators to measure progress by member statesto measure progress by member states

The Response of Eurodiaconia and The Response of Eurodiaconia and other social NGOsother social NGOs

Eurodiaconia’s studyEurodiaconia’s study

Challenges to our social modelsChallenges to our social models Challenges and opportunities for Challenges and opportunities for

DiaconiaDiaconia

Eurodiaconia’s responseEurodiaconia’s response Response to green paper on labour law consultation, Spring Response to green paper on labour law consultation, Spring

20072007 Meeting with MEP Ole ChristensenMeeting with MEP Ole Christensen Participation in Flexicurity conference, Fall 2007Participation in Flexicurity conference, Fall 2007 Contribution to Social Platform documentsContribution to Social Platform documents Press release upon publication of Flexicurity Press release upon publication of Flexicurity

CommunicationCommunication Meeting with EMCOMeeting with EMCO Letter to EMCOLetter to EMCO

• Involvement of stakeholdersInvolvement of stakeholders• Practical examplePractical example

Seminar on Flexicurity in Sweden, January 2008Seminar on Flexicurity in Sweden, January 2008 Planned statement: concerns, involvement, future stepsPlanned statement: concerns, involvement, future steps

Eurodiaconia response to Green Eurodiaconia response to Green Paper on Labour LawPaper on Labour Law

AddressingAddressing• Integrated approach to modernisation of the Integrated approach to modernisation of the

labour marketlabour market• Assess connection between work and social Assess connection between work and social

securitysecurity• Accesible labour market – using all resourcesAccesible labour market – using all resources

Calling forCalling for• Proper debate and clear definitionsProper debate and clear definitions• Discuss labour market and inclusion together Discuss labour market and inclusion together • Involve all stakeholders Involve all stakeholders

Social PlatformSocial Platform

10 principles on Flexicurity10 principles on Flexicurity Responses to consultationsResponses to consultations Meeting with EMCOMeeting with EMCO Troika meetingsTroika meetings

The question is...The question is...

Why involvement? What is our role and Why involvement? What is our role and responsibility?responsibility?• Recognition of role to enable proper assistance Recognition of role to enable proper assistance

to our users and of how services and the labour to our users and of how services and the labour market interlink (which services and market interlink (which services and challenges?)challenges?)

• Advocacy and work for inclusive societies in Advocacy and work for inclusive societies in the general sense (value base)the general sense (value base)

• Addressing (politically and practically) the Addressing (politically and practically) the issues or our users in particular issues or our users in particular

Diaconia Diaconia

ParticipationParticipation• Participation ladder (Sherry S. Arnstein)Participation ladder (Sherry S. Arnstein)• Qu/A/Si – members of society have a right to Qu/A/Si – members of society have a right to

participate fully participate fully • Participation – contribution – inclusionParticipation – contribution – inclusion• Rights-based approach?Rights-based approach?

Inclusion?Inclusion?• Bridge building?Bridge building?• Insiders/outsidersInsiders/outsiders

Lifelong learningLifelong learning• Pathways to employmentPathways to employment• EmpowermentEmpowerment

Stepping stonesStepping stones

OMCOMC Stakeholder involvementStakeholder involvement Partnerships (Commission, NGOs)Partnerships (Commission, NGOs) LobbyingLobbying Social PartnersSocial Partners Comprehension of capabilities and Comprehension of capabilities and

reachreach

Questions from the Slovenian Presidency meeting of Questions from the Slovenian Presidency meeting of Ministers of Employment and Social Affairs, January 2007 Ministers of Employment and Social Affairs, January 2007

(slightly modified)(slightly modified) How can/should social protection systems and labour law be How can/should social protection systems and labour law be

changed in response to the challenges to our social model and changed in response to the challenges to our social model and labour markets and in order to support effective entry into the labour markets and in order to support effective entry into the labour market and transition between jobs? How do we ensure labour market and transition between jobs? How do we ensure support of particularly vulnerable groups? What are the roles of support of particularly vulnerable groups? What are the roles of the stakeholders? the stakeholders?

What specific measures could/should be used in order to establish What specific measures could/should be used in order to establish trust among and guarantee support of young people, older trust among and guarantee support of young people, older workers and women (and other groups you identify) for the workers and women (and other groups you identify) for the changes introduced? What should the role of stakeholders be?changes introduced? What should the role of stakeholders be?

While establishing and implementing comprehensive flexicurity While establishing and implementing comprehensive flexicurity arrangements, in what way should the common principles of arrangements, in what way should the common principles of flexicurity be applied so as to take into account the specific flexicurity be applied so as to take into account the specific situation of young people and older workers and in particular the situation of young people and older workers and in particular the gender dimension?gender dimension?

What combination of policy measures have proven to be/could be What combination of policy measures have proven to be/could be useful to ensure a gender mainstreaming approach? What have useful to ensure a gender mainstreaming approach? What have been the effects of such policy measures in the evolution of the been the effects of such policy measures in the evolution of the labour market and social protection systems?labour market and social protection systems?

Jobs and growth in the social and health services Jobs and growth in the social and health services sector – some observationssector – some observations

Growth and genderGrowth and gender

¾ of new jobs created in the EU since ¾ of new jobs created in the EU since 2000 are occupied by women2000 are occupied by women

Majority of professional and informal Majority of professional and informal care by womencare by women

Inequality in payInequality in pay Job and workJob and work Child care and support for single Child care and support for single

mothers?mothers?

Growth and recruitmentGrowth and recruitment

Mobility and migrationMobility and migration Grey marketsGrey markets SalariesSalaries Skills (and transferability)Skills (and transferability) Faith-basedFaith-based

Life Long Learning and social Life Long Learning and social and health servicesand health services

Key features of a coherent and Key features of a coherent and comprehensive lifelong learning comprehensive lifelong learning

strategystrategy Lifelong learning should be viewed as an overarching concept Lifelong learning should be viewed as an overarching concept

covering all systems (formal, non-formal) and levels (pre-school, covering all systems (formal, non-formal) and levels (pre-school, primary, secondary, tertiary, adult, continuing) of education and primary, secondary, tertiary, adult, continuing) of education and training.training.

A lifelong learning strategy should be an overall framework for A lifelong learning strategy should be an overall framework for education and training policies containing a strategic overview education and training policies containing a strategic overview and a coherent set of priorities and the necessary allocation of and a coherent set of priorities and the necessary allocation of resources for targeted policy measures. It should be evidence-resources for targeted policy measures. It should be evidence-based. based.

A lifelong learning strategy should include flexible learning A lifelong learning strategy should include flexible learning pathways and effective transition points between all systems and pathways and effective transition points between all systems and levels of education and training in order to avoid dead-ends. levels of education and training in order to avoid dead-ends.

Lifelong learning strategies should build on partnerships with all Lifelong learning strategies should build on partnerships with all relevant stakeholders (including policy makers at national, relevant stakeholders (including policy makers at national, regional and local levels, social partners, learners and regional and local levels, social partners, learners and representatives of civil society) and must include the necessary representatives of civil society) and must include the necessary implementation and dissemination arrangements.implementation and dissemination arrangements.

Paul Paul Tzimas, The EU CommissionTzimas, The EU Commission

European ParliamentEuropean Parliament

””Stresses that the priority should be given Stresses that the priority should be given to the creation of a flexible labour market to the creation of a flexible labour market by raising educational levels and by raising educational levels and expanding appreticeship opportunities, expanding appreticeship opportunities, training and retraining programmes; training and retraining programmes; implementing effective policies against implementing effective policies against discrimination and breaking down barriers discrimination and breaking down barriers to the integration into the labour force of to the integration into the labour force of women, migrants, older and younger women, migrants, older and younger workers...” workers...” (European Parliament resolution on (European Parliament resolution on Common Principles of Flexicurity, 29/11/07)Common Principles of Flexicurity, 29/11/07)

Trouble shootingTrouble shooting

Commission’s headline: more and Commission’s headline: more and better jobsbetter jobs

Connection between the European Connection between the European Social Model and Flexicurity?Social Model and Flexicurity?