MODERNISATION OF LABOUR LAW IN THE EU

by Secretary-general Mr. J.W.B. Baron van Till:

EuroCommerce has been consulted by the European Commission on the Green Paper on Labour Law. The Green Paper can be considered as the starting point of an interesting debate, seeking to strive for a solution on how Labour Law can evolve to support the EU strategy’s objective of achieving sustainable growth with more and better jobs.

The Social Affairs Committee of EuroCommerce is currently fine-tuning its position paper; there is a clear need for reform of the labour market in order to ensure both flexibility and security.

EuroCommerce agrees that there is a need to mobilize all appropriate resources to promote a skilled, trained and adaptable workforce and labour markets responsive to the challenges stemming from the combined impact of globalization and of the ageing of European societies. However, EuroCommerce believes that the competence to modernise Labour Law rests primarily at national level. The EU should take up the role of exchanging national examples and monitoring national reforms.

Rather than restrict the use of different employment types, policy makers should focus helping employers offer a range of options and associated incentives, such as better child-care arrangements, measures to improve the work/life balance, life-long education opportunities. By doing so they would also encourage entrepreneurship.