European Parliament legislative resolution on the proposal from the Commission, ‘Guidelines for Member States’ Employment Policies 2000’ (COM(1999) 441 — C5-0147/1999 — 1999/0816(CNS))
C 158/36 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 7. 6. 2000 Thursday 4 November 1999 II Commission proposal ‘Guidelines for Member States’ Employment Policies 2000’ (COM(1999) 441 # C5-0147/1999 # 1999/0816(CNS)) TEXT PROPOSED BY THE COMMISSION AMENDMENTS BY PARLIAMENT (Amendment 3) Annex, introduction to Guidelines 1 and 2 the Member States will In order to influence the trend in youth and long-term unem- ployment intensify their efforts to develop preventive and employability-oriented strategies, build- ing on the early identification of individual needs; within a period to be determined by each Member State which may not exceed three years and which may be longer in Member States with particularly high unemployment, Member States will ensure that: the Member States will In order to influence the trend in youth and long-term unem- ployment intensify their efforts to develop preventive and employability-oriented strategies, build- ing on the early identification of individual needs; within a period to be determined by each Member State which may not exceed three years, although an extension of two years will be possible in Member States with particularly high unemployment, Member States will ensure that: (Amendment 4) Annex, Guideline 1 every unemployed young person is offered a new start 1. before reaching six months of unemployment, in the form of training, retraining, work practice, a job or other employability measure with a view to effective integration into the labour market; every unemployed young person is offered a new start 1. before reaching six months of unemployment, in the form of training, retraining, work practice, a job or other employability measure with a view to effective and lasting integration into the labour market; (Amendment 5) Annex, Guideline 2 2. unemployed adults are also offered a fresh start before reaching 12 months of unemployment by one of the afore- mentioned means or, more generally, by accompanying indi- vidual vocational guidance with a view to effective integration into the labour market; 2. unemployed adults are also offered a fresh start before reaching 12 months of unemployment by one of the afore- mentioned means or, more generally, by accompanying indi- vidual vocational guidance with a view to effective and lasting integration into the labour market; (Amendment 6) Annex, sentence after Guideline 2 These preventive and employability measures should be com- bined with measures to promote the re-employment of the long-term unemployed. These preventive and employability measures for both target groups who should be supported in equal measure should be combined with measures to promote the re-employment of the long-term unemployed. (Amendment 7) Annex, Guideline 3 3. will endeavour to increase significantly the number of persons benefiting from active measures to improve their employability. In order to increase the numbers of unemployed who are offered training or any similar measure, it will in par- ticular fix a target, in the light of its starting situation, of gra- dually achieving the average of the three most successful Mem- ber States, and at least 20%; 3. will endeavour to increase significantly the number of persons benefiting from active measures to improve their employability. In order to increase the numbers of unemployed who are offered training or any similar measure, it will in par- ticular fix a target, in the light of its starting situation, of gra- dually achieving the average of the three most successful Mem- least 25%. Concurrently, targets that ber States, and at 7. 6. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 158/37 TEXT PROPOSED BY THE COMMISSION Thursday 4 November 1999 AMENDMENTS BY PARLIAMENT measure the inclusion of women in training programmes will be set, based on the average of the three most suc- cessful Member States in this respect; (Amendment 8) Annex, Guideline 4, 2nd indent < to develop a policy for active ageing, encompassing appro- priate measures such as maintaining working capacity, life- long learning and other flexible working arrangements, so that older workers are also able to remain and participate actively in working life. < to develop a policy for active ageing, encompassing appro- priate measures such as maintaining working capacity, life- long learning and other flexible working arrangements, in order to enable older workers to remain and participate actively in working life for longer if they so wish, e. g. also on a part-time basis. (Amendment 9) Annex, Guideline 5 the social partners are urged, at their various levels of 5. responsibility and action, to conclude as soon as possible agreements with a view to increasing the possibilities for train- ing, work experience, traineeships or other measures likely to promote employability of the young and adult unemployed and to promote entry into the labour market. the social partners are urged, at their various levels of 5. responsibility and action, to conclude as soon as possible agreements with a view to increasing the possibilities for train- ing, work experience, traineeships or other measures likely to promote employability of the young and adult unemployed and to promote entry into the labour market. In this context, Member States shall create the preconditions and, as soon as possible, establish the conditions to enable such agree- ments to be applied and implemented. (Amendment 10) Annex, Guideline 6 6. in order to reinforce the development of a skilled and adaptable workforce, both Member States and the social part- ners will endeavour to develop possibilities for lifelong learn- ing, particularly in the fields of information and communica- tion technologies, and each Member State will set a target according to national circumstances for participants benefiting from such measures. Easy access for older workers will be par- ticularly important. 6. in order to reinforce the development of a skilled and adaptable workforce, both Member States and the social part- ners will endeavour to develop possibilities for lifelong learn- ing, particularly in the fields of information and communica- tion technologies, and each Member State will set a target according to national circumstances for participants benefiting from such measures. Easy access for those older workers who are interested, and for women, will be particularly impor- tant. (Amendment 11) Annex, Guideline 7 7. improve the quality of their school systems in order to reduce substantially the number of young people who drop out of the school system early. Particular attention should also be given to young people with learning difficulties. 7. improve the quality of their school systems in order to reduce substantially the number of young people who drop out of the school system early and to create the basis for training in jobs with a future. Particular attention should also be given to young people with learning difficulties so that once again they have access to educational and train- ing systems. C 158/38 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 7. 6. 2000 Thursday 4 November 1999 TEXT PROPOSED BY THE COMMISSION AMENDMENTS BY PARLIAMENT (Amendment 12) Annex, Guideline 8 8. make sure they equip young people with greater ability to adapt to technological and economic changes and with skills relevant to the labour market. Particular attention should be given to the development and modernisation of apprenticeship systems, to developing appropriate training for the acquisition of computer literacy and skills by students and teachers as well as to equipping schools with computer equipment and facilitat- ing student access to the Internet by the end of 2002. 8. make sure they equip young people with greater ability to adapt to technological and economic changes and with skills relevant to the labour market. Particular attention should be given in cooperation with the two sides of industry to the development and modernisation of apprenticeship systems, to developing appropriate training for the acquisition of computer literacy and skills by students and teachers as well as to equip- ping schools with computer equipment and facilitating student access to the Internet by the end of 2002. Special attention will be given to female students in this regard. (Amendment 13) Annex, Guideline 9 9. give special attention to the needs of the disabled, ethnic minorities and other groups and individuals who may be dis- advantaged, and develop appropriate forms of preventive and active policies to promote their integration into the labour market. give special attention to the needs of 9. the disabled (including those sick or injured because of work-related accidents or disease) # taking account of their aptitudes, ethnic minorities and other groups and individuals who may be disadvantaged, undertake effectively the employment prospects of those groups through compar- able targets and develop appropriate forms of preventive and active policies to promote in a holistic manner their integra- tion into the labour market. to improve (Amendment 14) Annex, introduction to Guidelines 10 and 11 The development of new enterprises, and the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), is essential for job crea- tion and for the expansion of training opportunities for young people. This process must be promoted by encouraging greater entrepreneurial awareness across society and in educational curricula, by providing a clear, stable and predictable set of rules, by improving the conditions for the development of risk capital markets and access to the stock market. The Member States should also reduce and simplify the administrative and tax burdens on SMEs. These policies will support Member States’ attempts to tackle undeclared work. To that end the Member States will: The development of new enterprises, and the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), is essential for job crea- tion and for the expansion of training opportunities for young people. This process must be promoted by encouraging greater entrepreneurial awareness and ability across society and in educational curricula, by providing a clear, stable and predict- able set of rules, by substantially improving the conditions for the development of risk capital markets and access to the capi- tal and stock markets and by improving the equity capitali- sation of businesses through voluntary equity participa- tion models for employees. The Member States must reduce and simplify the administrative burden in setting up busi- nesses and the administrative and tax burdens on SMEs. Appropriate preventive and punitive policies will support Member States’ attempts to tackle undeclared work. To that end the Member States will: (Amendments 15 and 32) Annex, Guideline 10 10. give particular attention to reducing significantly the overhead costs and administrative burdens for businesses, and especially SMEs, in particular when an enterprise is being set up and when hiring additional workers; 10. give particular attention to reducing significantly the overhead costs and administrative burdens for businesses in general and SMEs, cooperatives, social-economy enter- prises and new business, in particular, especially when an 7. 6. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 158/39 TEXT PROPOSED BY THE COMMISSION Thursday 4 November 1999 AMENDMENTS BY PARLIAMENT enterprise is being set up and when hiring additional workers, and will inform each other of this through a system of benchmarking. They will make information on their pro- gress regularly and widely available; (Amendment 16) Annex, Guideline 11 encourage the development of 11. self-employment by examining, with the aim of reducing, any obstacles which may exist, especially those within tax and social security regimes, to moving to self-employment and the setting up of small businesses as well as by promoting training for entrepre- neurship and targeted support services for entrepreneurs and would-be entrepreneurs. encourage the development of 11. self-employment by examining, with the aim of reducing, any obstacles which may exist, especially those within tax and social security regimes, to moving to self-employment and the setting up of small businesses as well as by promoting training for entrepre- neurship and targeted support services for entrepreneurs and would-be entrepreneurs. The development of self-employ- ment will take into account gender-specific barriers. (Amendment 17) Annex, Guideline 12 to exploit promote measures 12. fully the possibilities offered by job creation at local level and in the social economy, especially in new activities linked to needs not yet satisfied by the market, and examine, with the aim of reducing, any obsta- cles in the way of such measures. In this respect, the special role and responsibility of partners at the regional and local levels, as well as the social partners, needs to be more fully recognised and supported. In addition, the role of the public employment services in identifying local employment opportu- nities and improving the functioning of local labour markets, should be exploited. to exploit promote measures 12. fully the possibilities offered by job creation at local level and in the social economy, especially in new activities linked to needs not yet satisfied by the market, and examine, with the aim of reducing, any obsta- cles in the way of such measures. In this respect, the special role and responsibility of local and regional authorities, other partners at the regional and local levels, as well as the social partners, needs to be more fully recognised and sup- ported. In addition, the role of the public employment services in identifying local employment opportunities and improving the functioning of local labour markets, should be exploited. (Amendment 18) Annex, Guideline 13 develop framework conditions the 13. the services sector and industry- employment potential of related services, inter alia by tapping the employment potential of the information society and the environmental sector, to cre- ate more and better jobs. to fully exploit to fully exploit develop framework conditions the 13. the services sector and industry- employment potential of related services, which is still underutilised in comparison with other industrialised countries, inter alia by tapping the employment potential of the information society and the environmental sector, to create more and better jobs. (Amendment 44) Annex, Guideline 14 14. set a target, if necessary and taking account of its present level, for gradually reducing the overall tax burden and, where appropriate, a target for gradually reducing the fiscal pressure on labour and non-wage labour costs, in particular on relatively unskilled and low-paid labour, without jeopardising the recovery of public finances or the financial equilibrium of social security schemes. It will examine, if appropriate, the desirability of introdu- cing a tax on energy or on pollutant emissions or any other tax measure. 14. set target quotas, taking account of its present level, for gradually reducing the overall tax burden and, where appropri- ate, a target for gradually reducing the fiscal pressure on labour and non-wage labour costs, without jeopardising the recovery of public finances or the financial equilibrium of social security schemes. It will consider, if appropriate, whether the intro- duction of a tax on energy or on pollutant emissions or any other tax measure is likely permanently to maintain the financial balance of the social insurance systems. C 158/40 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 7. 6. 2000 Thursday 4 November 1999 TEXT PROPOSED BY THE COMMISSION AMENDMENTS BY PARLIAMENT (Amendment 19) Annex, introduction to Guidelines 16 and 17 In order to promote the modernisation of work organisation and forms of work, a strong partnership should be developed at all appropriate levels (European, national, sectoral, local and enterprise levels): In order to promote the modernisation of work organisation and forms of work, a strong partnership is required at all appropriate levels (European, national, sectoral, local and enter- prise levels): (Amendment 20) Annex, Guideline 16 The social partners are urged to agree and implement a 16. process in order to modernise the organisation of work, includ- ing flexible working arrangements, with the aim of making undertakings productive and competitive and achieving the required balance between flexibility and security. Subjects to be covered may, for example, include training and re-training, the introduction of new technologies, new forms of work and working time issues such as the expression of working time as an annual figure, the reduction of working hours, the reduction of overtime, the development of part-time working, and access to training and career breaks. The social partners are urged to agree in the context of 16. their collective bargaining and implement a process in order to modernise the organisation of work, including flexible work- ing arrangements, with the aim of making undertakings pro- ductive and competitive and achieving the required balance between flexibility and social security, including minimum standards of informing and consulting employees. Subjects to be covered may, for example, include training and re-train- ing, the introduction of new technologies, new forms of work and working time issues such as the expression of working time as an annual figure, the reduction of working hours, the reduction of overtime, the development of part-time working, and access to training and career breaks. (Amendment 45) Annex, Guideline 17 examine the possibility of incorporating in its law more 17. adaptable types of contract, taking into account the fact that forms of employment are increasingly diverse. Those working under contracts of this kind should at the same time enjoy ade- quate security and higher occupational status, compatible with the needs of business. adapt its law to allow for more adaptable types of con- 17. tract, taking into account the fact that forms of employment are increasingly diverse. Those working under contracts of this kind should at the same time enjoy adequate security com- pared to full-time employees and higher occupational status, compatible with the needs of business. (Amendment 21) Annex, Guideline 18 18. re-examine the obstacles, in particular tax obstacles, to investment in human resources and possibly provide for tax or other incentives for the development of in-house training; they will also examine new regulations and review the existing regulatory framework to make sure they will contribute to reducing barriers to employment and helping the labour mar- ket adapt to structural change in the economy. remove the obstacles, 18. in particular tax obstacles, to investment in human resources and possibly provide for tax or other incentives for the development of in-house training; they will also examine new regulations and review the existing regulatory framework to make sure they will contribute to reducing barriers to employment and helping the labour mar- ket adapt to structural change in the economy. (Amendment 22) Annex, introduction to Guideline 19 Women still have particular problems in gaining access to the employment market, in career advancement, in earnings and in reconciling professional and family life. It is therefore impor- tant, inter alia: Women still have particular problems in gaining access to the employment market, in career advancement, in earnings and in reconciling professional and family life. The Member States and the EU must make a combined effort to decrease the 7. 6. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 158/41 TEXT PROPOSED BY THE COMMISSION Thursday 4 November 1999 AMENDMENTS BY PARLIAMENT current EU gender gap in each Member State by 50% within five years. It is therefore important, inter alia: < to ensure that active labour market policies are made avail- able for women in proportion to their share of unemploy- ment; < to ensure that active labour market policies are made avail- able for women in proportion to their share of unemploy- ment; < to reduce tax-benefit disincentives, wherever identified, because of their negative effects on the female labour sup- ply; < to reduce tax-benefit disincentives, wherever identified, because of their negative effects on the female labour sup- ply; < to give particular attention to obstacles which hinder women who wish to set up new businesses or become self-employed; < to give particular attention to obstacles which hinder women on the labour market or in access to the labour market or when they wish to set up new businesses or become self-employed; < to ensure that women are able to benefit positively from flexible forms of work organisation. < to ensure that women are able to benefit positively from flexible forms of work organisation on a voluntary basis. (Amendment 23) Annex, Guideline 19 19. adopt a gender-mainstreaming approach in implement- ing the Guidelines of all four pillars. In order meaningfully to evaluate progress on this approach, Member States will need to provide for adequate data collection systems and procedures. 19. adopt a gender-mainstreaming approach in implement- ing the Guidelines of all four pillars. In order meaningfully to evaluate progress on this approach, Member States will need to provide for adequate data collection systems and procedures. All employment statistics should be desegregated by gen- der and within one year Member States will develop a set of benchmarks and criteria for the implementation and evaluation of gender mainstreaming. (Amendment 24) Annex, Guideline 20 attempt to reduce the gap in unemployment 20. rates between women and men by actively supporting the increased employment of women and will take action to bring about a balanced representation of women and men in all sectors and occupations. They will initiate positive steps to promote equal pay for equal work or work of equal value and to diminish dif- ferentials in incomes between women and men. In order to reduce gender gaps, Member States will also consider an increased use of measures for the advancement of women. attempt to reduce the gap in unemployment 20. rates between women and men by actively supporting the increased employment of women and will take action to bring about a balanced representation of women and men in all sectors and occupations. They will initiate positive steps to promote equal pay for equal work or work of equal value, with the aim of eliminating differentials in incomes between women and men. In order to reduce gender gaps, Member States will also con- sider an increased use of measures for the advancement of women. (Amendment 25) Annex, introduction to Guideline 21 Policies on career breaks, parental leave and part-time work, as well as flexible working arrangements which serve the interests of both employers and employees, are of particular importance to women and men. Implementation of the various Directives and social-partner agreements in this area should be accelerated Policies on career breaks, parental leave and part-time work, as well as flexible working arrangements which serve the interests of both employers and employees, are of particular importance to women and men. Implementation of the various Directives and social-partner agreements in this area should be accelerated C 158/42 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 7. 6. 2000 Thursday 4 November 1999 TEXT PROPOSED BY THE COMMISSION and monitored regularly. There must be an adequate provision of good quality care for children and other dependants in order to support women’s and men’s entry and continued participa- tion in the labour market. An equal sharing of family responsi- bilities is crucial in this respect. In order to strengthen equal opportunities, Member States and the social partners will: AMENDMENTS BY PARLIAMENT and monitored regularly. There must be an adequate provision, in the form of comparable targets for the Member States, of good quality care for children and other dependants in order to support women’s and men’s entry and continued participa- tion in the labour market. Member States will increase the number of child care places and institutions for the care of older persons and other persons in need of care. An equal sharing of family responsibilities is crucial in this respect. In order to strengthen equal opportunities, Member States and the social partners will: (Amendment 26) Annex, Guideline 21 design, implement and promote family-friendly policies, 21. including affordable, accessible and high quality care services for children and other dependants, as well as parental and other leave schemes. design, implement and promote family-friendly policies, 21. including affordable, accessible and high quality care services for children and other dependants, as well as parental and other leave schemes. Member States, in consultation with their social partners, will provide legal remedies for women and men who are discriminated against for taking parental and care leave. European Parliament legislative resolution on the proposal from the Commission, ‘Guidelines for Member States’ Employment Policies 2000’ (COM(1999) 441 # C5-0147/1999 # 1999/0816(CNS)) (Consultation procedure) The European Parliament, < having regard to the Commission proposal (COM(1999) 441 < 1999/0816(CNS)), < having been consulted by the Council (C5-0147/1999), < having regard to Rule 67 of its Rules of Procedure, < having regard to the report of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs and the opinions of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and the Committee on Women’s Rights and Equal Opportunities (A5-0045/1999), 1. Approves the Commission proposal as amended; 2. ment; 3. 4. Calls on the Council to notify Parliament should it intend to depart from the text approved by Parlia- Asks to be consulted again if the Council intends to amend its draft decision substantially; Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council and Commission