EU: launching of the Sectoral Social Dialog Committee in the metal industry

As we announced in October (see our dispatch No. 090985), today, January 14th was the day employers (CEEMET) and union (EMF) organizations were launching the European Sectoral Social Dialog Committee for the metal, engineering and technology-based industries. In the joint press release published after the launching session, the two organizations declared that the latter marks “the start of an intensified cooperation between” them, at a time “when the manufacturing industries in Europe are having to cope with tremendous challenges, such as globalization and international competition, demographic change and environmental concerns, as well as with the impact of the current economic and financial crisis.” They add: “Therefore, it is vital for companies and their employees to be equipped to meet these challenges.” This is why the EMF and CEEMMET want to “contribute, particularly in the area of social policy, to improving the environment that supports the development of competitive and profitable companies,” the latter being necessary to guarantee “sustainable jobs and improve the social conditions” in the sector. As such, international competition, skills evolution, managing demographic ageing, workers’ mobility, research and development and innovation were identified as priorities for this brand new committee, which has set out a two-year work program.