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The Social Dialogue Committee in 2009 started a project of a social observatory of the postal sector. In 3 workshops, the national social partners presented 9 country case studies. The topics dealt with in the workshops were the changes and the strategies followed for the postal operators, ways to include social partners in these changes with social dialogues. Social regulation as well as training and the new skills needed in the sector were other featured topics.



The case studies covered examples in Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Latvia, Sweden and Germany, and included issues such as ongoing diversification, restructuring measures; globalisation and the impact of new technologies and electronic communication. The consequences of which seen to be a significant change in employment, with a need for new skills needed. It was also seen that to meet the challenges of changing patterns of communication that the postal industry needs an investigation in new products and how they affect employment.



The project has meant that the social partners had the chance to exchange experiences and best practises. In all cases it was clear that a well operating social partnership is ideal to help the company adapt and prepare well to meet these new challenges. Social regulation and social acceptable solutions are the only way to get a sustainable and long-term strategy to help the postal industry out of the financial crisis and into a new generation of postal services.



The final conference for the project will take place on the 22^nd of October in Brussels with representatives from all European countries, from the European Commission and the social partners. Results and recommendations of all 3 workshops will be discussed.



A final report with information and observations on the country cases and with the output and recommendations of this project will be published by the end of this year.