European Social Dialogue in the Chemical Industry

Reinhard Reibsch Secretary General EMCEF HLG Follow-up-Conference Usti and Labem

Legal and political background of the European SD

 Social dialogue mechanism is fixed in the Maastricht- (1993) and Amsterdam Treaty (1997) as a part of the Social Protocol  Background was deadlock of social issue in preparing of the European Single Market in the late 80th  Jacques Delors, President of EU-Commission a that time understood the SD-mechanism as a way to solve the deficit in European social policy, but also to promote and establish European Labour relations

Social Dialogue and EU Social Policy

Legislation Mobility - Gender equality Health and Safety European Social Funds EU Social Policy Agenda Open Method of Coordination Employment Social protection European Social Dialogue 3

Precondition and role of the Social partners and the EU Commission

 Social partners have to be/have:  representative for the sector  organized at European level  the capacity to negotiate agreements  Only the SP decide on the working program, rules and agendas  EU Commission offers consultation and administrative support

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Mechanism of the SD

 Legal bases of the European Social Dialogue is Art. 139 TEC  3 levels of agreements:  Common position  Recomendation  Binding agreement, that can lead in place of the legislative procedure to lawful rulings

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European Social Dialog in the Chemical Industry

 The European Social Dialogue in the chemical industry is recognised since December 2004  The social partners:  EMCEF, the European Trade Union Federation for Chemicals, Energy and Mining  ECEG, the European Chemical Employers Group

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Preparation of the social partners in chemical industry for SD

 Since 2000 several activities on issues of common interest had been arranged to discuss and evaluate issues for SD  Issues were: qualification (Milano 2001, Madrid 2002, Helsinki 2004), industrial policy (Berlin 2001, Madrid 2002, Paris 2003) and Health and Safety (Madrid 2002, Helsinki 2004)  Since 2003 these conferences had been organised by ECEG and EMCEF, before they had taken place on invitation of national social partners

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Biannual Working Plans

 1st Working plan 2005/06  Education/ Training / Lifelong Learning  Responsible Care  Reach and H&S Management in Chemical and Downstream Users Industries  Follow-up of the EU enlargement in 2004 and preparations for possible next steps of enlargement  2nd Working plan 2007/08  1st working plan was continued with the addition of  Industrial Policy, Competitiveness and Employment

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Project REACH

 REACH was the first project of the SD  REACH as part of European industrial policy – background and importance for the Chemical Industry in Europe  Common position adopted by the third Plenary Meeting on 15 September 2005 in London.

 Social Partners clarified their position on the suggested legislation  Engagement for the improvement of H&S conditions while handling chemical substances in the Chemical Industry

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Project H&S at workplace

 Improvement of Health and Safety at the workplace as target for Social Dialogues  "Going beyond REACH - Health and Safety: a responsibility for social Partners“  Main objectives of the project:  strengthen the SD in the Member States with particular attention to new Member States  Best practices  Encourage cross-sector cooperation of Social Dialogues.

 Contribution to the Lisbon Strategy of the EU by developing recommendations to enhance the quality of employment conditions in the chemical and downstream industries.

Project H&S – Outcome

 Final Report: “Occupational and Health Protection at the workplace in respect to chemical substances in the European Union”  CD-ROM and website  Translation in 7 languages available (CZ,DE,EN,ES,FR,HU,IT,PL)  A contribution on occupational H&S issues

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Project on Restructuring  In 2007 and 2008 ECEG and EMCEF have carried out a project on restructuring in the chemical industry  Examples of good practise had been discussed  Conclusions give recommendations to national social partners how to deal with restructuring

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Social partners and ECRN  R egional differences and cooperation will play a more important role  There are other areas of common interest, like skills and qualification or also industrial policy which has an impact on investments and social conditions  ECEG and EMCEF are interested in a close cooperation in the future

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Thank you for your attention

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