Recession-hit labour market to benefit from EU funds

A €19bn funding package, aimed at boosting employment and training during the economic crisis, has been made available by the EU.

New businesses and micro-enterprises, who might otherwise struggle to establish themselves given the current global financial situation, are also expected to benefit from the initiative, part of the European Social Fund.

“Today the Commission is taking a further step towards shared commitment and coordinated action by the EU, Member States and social partners to save and create jobs," said European Commission president José Manuel Barroso.

"For example, we are accelerating billions of euros in EU support for retraining under the European Social Fund, which already helps more than 9 million people a year find jobs. Together with international financial institutions and in particular the European Investment Bank Group, we will create a new €500 million micro-credit facility to support entrepreneurs. And at national level we want to see 5 million young Europeans have access to apprenticeships,” he added.

The main priorities of the “EU Shared Commitment for Employment” are job creation and worker mobility, ensuring that skills match the needs of the labour market, and increasing access to employment for all.

While much was made of the economic support that these new proposals will provide, there was however no mention of measures to ensure that these plans will have a positive impact on health, for example through the regulation of fair and decent working conditions.

The impact upon health of working conditions must be a feature of employment policies at the national and international level, according to a WHO report on the social determinants of health.

“To date, relatively few countries have integrated employment and working conditions into economic and social policies,” the report says.

“Full and fair employment and decent work [should] be made a shared objective of international institutions,” the report adds.

The proposals for the “EU Shared Commitment for Employment” will now be presented to heads of state and government at the European Council meeting on 18-19 June.

The full text of the European Commission communication on the “EU Shared Commitment for Employment” can be found on the EU Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities website.