Press release

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EU Social Agenda on the move again

After a period of relative quiet, the EU Commission’s "Social Agenda" seems to be on the move again, ahead of a review of progress in 2007.

Initiatives on modernisation of EU labour law, work-life balance, the ageing workforce, and the horribly-named “flexicurity” are all in the pipeline.

The Brussels-based Commission is planning a mid-term review of progress with its 5 year Social Agenda launched in 2005. Until recently, little had happened - much to the relief of EU employers tottering under the burden of all the Jacques Delors inspired emplioyment legislation of the 1990s and early 2000s.

In a bid to have something to report, the employment directorate of the Commission has launched a public consultation on modernising EU labour law to counter what it sees as an emerging “two-tier” labour market -
permanently employed “insiders” protected by employment law, and precariously employed “outsiders” such as agency workers, sub-contractors, and self-employed with few protections. According
to the Commission, almost half of the EU’s workforce is now on non-standard forms of contract or self-employed, and the figure is much higher for women, as well as younger and older workers.