Inclusive labour markets allow and encourage all people of working age to participate in paid work and provide a framework for their development.The European social partners consider an inclusive labour market to be fundamental in terms of fostering economic development and social cohesion. On March 25, 2010 ETUC, BUSINESSEUROPE, UEAPME and CEEP presented their European agreement on inclusive labour markets at the Tripartite Social Summit in Brussels.

The parties agreed that with the EU unemployment rate at the time being 9.5%, urgent and determined action was needed. Europe could not afford such a waste of talent. The countries of Europe must make full use of their labour forces’ potential, improve job quality and increase employment rates in the face of demographic ageing. With this agreement, they committed to taking concrete measures to help disadvantaged people to enter, remain and develop in the labour market. The European Commission’s objective of achieving inclusive growth as part of a renewed Europe 2020 strategy will be furthered through the implementation of this framework agreement.

Achieving an inclusive labour market is a multi-faceted challenge and a key concern for European social partners. Social dialogue and the activities of representatives of employers and workers at all levels have an important role to play in meeting this challenge. According to the framework agreement national social partners have three years to implement the agreement and are obligated to report on their activities annually. A final implementation report will be drawn up on this basis in 2014. Social partners are aware of the fact that achieving an inclusive labour market does not depend exclusively on their actions. Public authorities and other actors have responsibilities in terms of ensuring that there is a framework that encourages and promotes inclusive labour markets.

About the project

The project aimed to:

• support CEE social partners with the implementation of the framework agreement by establishing a partnership for a more inclusive labour markets, comprised of social partner organisations, national employment services and other relevant public authorities;
• increase awareness, understanding and knowledge among employers, workers and their representatives on the benefits of inclusive labour markets;
• provide workers, employers and their representatives at all levels with best practices to identify obstacles to inclusive labour markets and solutions to overcome them.

Project activities

• Awareness-raising national seminars for CEE social partners, employers, employee representatives and other stakeholders. These sessionswere conducted in local (national) languages. Foreign and local experts contributed, and we produced seminar handouts.
• The project’s final event was the main awareness-raising event.
• The publishing of a booklet available in both hard copy and as a downloadable document from the national EA and TU websites;
• The development of the national EA and TU homepages that present project information and deliverables.

Project partners meetings

• 29.2.2012 - Kick off meeting, Budapest, Hungary
• 23.5.2012 - Interim meeting, Wiena, Austria
• 20.9.2012 - Interim meeting, Zagreb, Croatia

Project partners

Employers’ Associations:

• Federation of Austrian Industries IV
• Croatian Employers Association HUP
• Association of Employers of Slovenia ZDS
• Confederation of Hungarian Employers and Industrialists MGYOSZ BUSINESSHUNGARY

Trade Unions:

• Independent Trade Unions of Croatia NHS
• Trade Union Confederation 90 of Slovenia
• Austrian Trade Union Federation ÖGB
• National Confederation of Hungarian Trade Unions MSZOSZ

Project CEE-ILM is co-financed by European Union.