Published on 3rd June 2021
“Practices of sectoral social dialogue in the temporary agency work industry are quite diverse across Europe, reflecting the different industrial relations systems and national labour market models” said Dr. Michael Freytag, Public Affairs Manager of the World Employment Confederation-Europe. “Yet, this diversity can be a source of enrichment! Our new sectoral social dialogue work programme provides the basis for mutual learning and best-practice exchange, while at the same time reflecting on the key EU employment and social affairs priorities”.
The 2021 – 2023 work programme adopted on 31 May by the World Employment Confederation-Europe and UNI-Europa will cover the following main themes:
P – Platform work: digital transformation, artificial intelligence and the changing world of work
A – Apprenticeships: dual learning and the European Skills Agenda
R – Regulation: the review of the regulatory framework on temporary agency work (review of restrictions and fact-finding on cross-border temporary agency work) and the benefits of diverse forms of work
T – Trust: building trust and confidence in working together through best-practice sharing
N – New normal: the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the temporary agency work industry, digital transformation and the allocation role of temporary agency work
E – Employment Policies: activation, labour market transitions, public-private partnerships and policies to tackle undeclared work
R – Role of sectoral social partners: connecting European and national debates and capacity building
S – Social Innovation: new ways of working, learning and social protection
This work programme builds on key milestones achieved by the social dialogue in the European temporary agency work sector between 2018 and 2020, such as the joint projects on “Online talent platforms, labour market intermediaries and the changing world of work” and “Social Innovation in the temporary agency work industry”. But the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the temporary agency work industry, the digital transformation and the allocation role of temporary agency work, helping to facilitate sectoral shifts from declining to raising sectors, are adding a new dimension to the challenges that the sector has already been facing.
The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of sectoral social dialogue to address labour market challenges and in supporting companies and workers in adapting to change. It is against this background that the World Employment Confederation-Europe and UNI-Europa are planning to conduct in 2022 and 2023 a joint capacity building project as part of their sectoral social dialogue.
