European Social Dialogue in the Chemical Industry

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European Social Dialoguein the Chemical Industry

• Reinhard Reibsch
• Secretary General
• EMCEF

HLG Follow-up-Conference Usti and Labem
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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

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Social Dialogue and EU Social Policy
Legislation Mobility - Gender equality Health and
Safety
EU Social Policy Agenda
European Social Dialogue
European Social Funds
Open Method of Coordination Employment Social
protection
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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 HS 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 HS conditions
  while handling chemical substances in the
  Chemical Industry

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Project HS 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.

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Project HS 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 HS 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

• Regional 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 youfor yourattention