Employment

Latest news, background information and web links about the employment policies of the European Union.

European Qualifications Framework - guide — 18 April 2008, 15:28 CET

Latest news, background information and web links about the employment policies of the European Union.

European Qualifications Framework — 18 April 2008, 15:20 CET

The EQF is a common European reference framework which links countries' qualifications systems together, acting as a translation device to make qualifications more readable. It has two principal aims: to promote citizens' mobility between countries and to facilitate their lifelong learning.

Gender mainstreaming of employment policies in practice — 06 March 2008, 13:35 CET

The European Commission just published an expert report analysing gender mainstreaming in practice in the field of employment policies. The report also presents concrete examples of gender mainstreaming implemented over the last few years in 30 European countries.

Women and men in decision-making — 06 March 2008, 13:24 CET

This website on women and men in decision-making gives an insight into the relative numbers of women and men participating in the decision-making process and taking up leadership positions in the European Institutions, the 27 Member States of the European Union, the EEA countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway), and two of the EU candidate countries (Croatia and Turkey). The website contains data and indicators that cover decision-making in political, public and juridical and social and economic domains both on European and national level. For the political domain only, decision-making at regional level is also covered.

Joint Employment Report — 28 February 2008, 23:47 CET

Employment growth has been impressive during the last year according to the Joint Employment Report, to be adopted by Employment Ministers on 29 February 2008. Almost 6.5 million new jobs were created during the last two years and another 5 million jobs are forecast by 2009. Unemployment in the EU is expected to fall to under 7% in 2008, the lowest level since the mid-1980s. The Report – which assesses Member States’ implementation of their national reform programmes in the area of employment – is strongly upbeat. However, it also points to a number of ongoing areas for concern, notably youth unemployment and under-investment in education and training.

Employment Equality Directive - guide — 31 January 2008, 22:42 CET

Latest news, background information and web links about the employment policies of the European Union.

Supplementary pension schemes and mobility in Europe: studies — 24 January 2008, 18:55 CET

Latest news, background information and web links about the employment policies of the European Union.

Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs: guide — 11 December 2007, 02:01 CET

Latest news, background information and web links about the employment policies of the European Union.

Industrial relations in the EU, Japan, US and other global economies — 06 December 2007, 23:05 CET

Spotlight on temporary agency work, SMEs and industrial relations in the EU, Japan and US - the report is published by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound), the Dublin-based EU Agency. The report provides an overview of developments in the field of industrial relations in the EU and other global economies with a view to informing social dialogue and preparing decision makers for the challenges of globalisation.

European Qualifications Framework launched in Portugal — 27 November 2007, 19:58 CET

Ján Figel', European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth, has officially launched the European Qualifications Framework for lifelong learning (EQF) at an education conference in Lisbon, Portugal.

Development of the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) — 27 November 2007, 19:04 CET

European Qualifications Framework (EQF) - detailed presentation. The Commission formally published the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) as a Staff Working Document on 8 July 2005. This page describes the development of the EQF from its adoption as a Staff Working Document to its adoption as a formal proposal on 5 September 2006.

Restructuring Forum — 26 November 2007, 22:49 CET

The European Commission set up the 'Restructuring Forum' in 2005. Based on work already done by existing organisations, the Forum's mission is to keep in regular touch with ongoing changes and to ensure that the various initiatives are properly dovetailed; this requires the participation of the Commission, the other EU institutions, the social partners and outside specialists. The Restructuring Forum brings together high level representatives from European institutions, governments, cross industry and sectoral social partners, academic experts, promoters of good practices, business support providers such as chambers of commerce and industry, regional development agencies and the European Business and Innovation Centres.

Employment in Europe 2007 — 26 November 2007, 18:35 CET

Latest news, background information and web links about the employment policies of the European Union.

In EU first, GM launches Chevrolet production in Poland — 06 November 2007, 19:33 CET

General Motors has launched production of the Aveo economy car at a plant in Poland, the first time a vehicle from the Chevrolet brand has been built in the EU.

New European Qualifications Framework to promote mobility and lifelong learning — 26 October 2007, 18:16 CET

The Members of the European Parliament have supported a draft resolution to establish a European Qualification Framework for lifelong learning (EQF), calling for EU-wide recognition of job qualifications.

Undeclared work in the European Union - Eurobarometer 284 — 25 October 2007, 23:26 CET

The Eurobarometer survey 'Undeclared work in the European Union' - the first ever Europe-wide harmonised survey on this sensitive topic – confirms the existence of a large market for undeclared work all over the EU. The Eurobarometer survey reveals that undeclared work is particularly widespread in southern and eastern Europe. Across the EU, 5% of employees admit receiving cash-in-hand wages, varying from 3% or less in most continental countries, the UK and Ireland, to over 10% in some central and eastern European countries. Undeclared work is more concentrated among students, the unemployed and the self-employed, and has a higher incidence in the construction and household services sectors. The detection risk also matters: people who consider the risk to be small are more likely to be involved in undeclared work.

Unofficial work hitting EU's job market — 24 October 2007, 19:09 CET

The problem of unofficial work in the 'Black Economy' is increasing, robbing the taxman and undermining the EU's ability to create jobs and strengthen growth, the Commission says.

Stepping up the fight against undeclared work - EC Communication — 24 October 2007, 18:20 CET

Undeclared work is still a problem in Europe and is undermining the EU's ability to meet its targets for more and better jobs and stronger growth, says a new European Commission report released today. The EC Communication 'Stepping up the fight against undeclared work' COM(2007) 628 final identifies the main drivers for the informal economy, sets out successful ways to reduce it and proposes a series of concrete follow-up actions at European and national levels. New figures from Eurobarometer – which has carried out the first ever Europe-wide harmonised survey on this sensitive topic – confirm the existence of a large market for undeclared work all over the EU.

EU unveils 'blue card' scheme to attract skilled immigrants — 24 October 2007, 16:29 CET

The Commission has unveiled its new "blue card" labour scheme aimed at attracting highly qualified immigrants to the EU to fill millions of jobs.

Attractive conditions for the admission and residence of highly qualified immigrants - guide — 23 October 2007, 19:16 CET

Latest news, background information and web links about the employment policies of the European Union.

Simplified admission procedures and common set of rights for third-country workers - guide — 23 October 2007, 19:05 CET

Latest news, background information and web links about the employment policies of the European Union.

Employment and Labour Market Analysis - Undeclared Work — 19 October 2007, 14:28 CET

Undeclared work is one of the issues of common concern in the employment field. The concept of "undeclared work" is taken to mean any paid activities that are lawful as regards their nature but not declared to the public authorities, bearing in mind differences in the regulatory system of EU Member States. Applying this definition, criminal activities would be excluded, as would work which does not have to be declared. Undeclared work affects all Member States and is therefore one of the issues of common concern in the employment field. Undeclared work risks undermining the financing of social services, already under pressure, decreases individuals’ social protection status and labour market prospects and may affect competitive conditions. It also runs counter to European ideals on solidarity and social justice. The European Commission Communication on the future of the European Employment Strategy highlights the issue of undeclared work. It refers to actions aiming at transforming undeclared work into regular employment and the policy-mix combining both preventive actions and sanctions. It stresses that it is vital that Member States improve data collection and monitor progress, including impact evaluation of policy initiatives.

EU Job Days 2007 — 21 September 2007, 13:16 CET

More than 200 European cities have signed up to participate this September in the European Job Days 2007, a series of events dedicated to promote workers mobility in Europe. Numerous initiatives from Finland to Portugal, from Ireland to Cyprus will raise awareness on the possibilities and practicalities of living and working in another European country.

Germany to open job market to eastern European engineers — 19 September 2007, 14:58 CET

The German cabinet has approved plans to loosen employment restrictions on engineers from the EU member states in eastern Europe.

Employment Law Q&A (Questions & Answers) (Amazon, Paperback) — 18 September 2007, 13:06 CET

Latest news, background information and web links about the employment policies of the European Union.