News

Subject: Decent Work



Submitted by: ver.di Youth, Germany

Motion Text:

Jobs in Europe are becoming increasingly precarious: agency work, short-term contracts and low pay are spreading rapidly. At the same time, we are witnessing a reduction in decent and secure working conditions. Within the sectors organised by UNI, i.e. the private services industries, these developments have taken on a particularly dramatic twist. Young workers are disproportionately affected by bad employment conditions and precarious jobs. On the one hand, they find that nothing is being done to facilitate their access to the labour market, as they go from one temporary job to the next, often forced to survive regular periods of unemployment. On the other hand, they have to work under a high level of pressure, with longer working hours and lower pay.



In order to overcome the problems that beset European labour markets, the European Commission is promoting the concept of “flexicurity”. However, so far the strategies that have been implemented seem to be limited to increasing flexibility, meaning longer working hours. The issues of protection and security have not been addressed at all. There are no enforceable rights or entitlements. On the contrary, employees are left to their own devices and securing their livelihood has become their responsibility alone.



The trade union movement opposes this with its own idea of “decent work”. This term implies the respect of human dignity, and means that work must provide workers with a sufficient income, social protection, room for personal development and integration into society. “Decent work” has been one of the main issues addressed by UNI-Europa Youth in the period 2007 – 2009. UNI-Europa Youth has taken a clear stance on this in its action plan: employment, social security and welfare services, workers’ rights and the social dialogue are all part of the programme. Not surprisingly, there are still many different ways of defining decent work which can include concepts such as health, working conditions, appreciation of one’s work, participation, and training.



The challenges facing young people joining the labour market today will remain with us in the future; indeed they are likely to be exacerbated. That is why the subject of decent work must remain on the agenda of UNI-Europa Youth and its affiliates. This applies both to the thematic structure and contents of the programme, and to its translation into practical trade union work. More specifically, this means that:



UNI-Europa Youth, UNI-Europa and its affiliates must agree on a comprehensive concept of what constitutes decent work.



Affiliates should examine to what extent the principles of decent work can be implemented in their day-to-day activities.







UNI-Europa Youth, UNI Europa and their affiliates must develop or compile trade union strategies which can help impose a pan-European concept of decent work. In order to facilitate the comparability of decent work within Europe, a European index of decent work, much like other national indices, should be developed.



UNI-Europa Youth and its affiliates should seek alliances in the trade union and other social movements in order to use that leverage to demand that the principle of decent work be upheld.

In order to ensure that the interests of the members of UNI-Europa Youth are better understood and given greater prominence in our political demands, youth must be represented in all national and European trade union bodies, and not just in youth committees.



The UNI-Europa Youth Steering Group should examine to what extent the ITUC’s (International Trade Union Confederation) “Decent Work for A Decent Life” campaign can be supported by the Solidar organisation, Social Alert and the Global Progressive Forum.



ADOPTED