Towards a single European labour market a European trade union perspective

1. Prague, 26 February 2009 Ministerial conference “ Strengthening EU competitiveness – potential of migrants on the labour market” Towards a single European labour market a European trade union perspective on mobility and migration Catelene Passchier 1

2. The Challenges The financial/economic crisis: unemployment on the rise Climate change The demographic challenges; feminisation of the workforce Migration from outside, mobility within Europe in the wider world; poverty increasing

3. Responses urgent to: Excesses capitalism and unfettered search for short term profit Rising inequality Deterioration quality of jobs: precariousness Internal market rules invading national (social) space Strong feelings of insecurity Protectionism, nationalism, xenophobia

4. A new vision for Europe?! A new social deal ............ Protection, to prevent protectionism !

5. 3 areas for action Combat racism and xenophobia, promote integration and equal opportunities of migrant and ethnic minority workers A better framework for mobility within the EU: European rules of the game A proactive policy on economic migration

6. Equality and integration A genuine two way process Full citizenship Access to education, housing etc Access to quality employment Respect for cultural and religious difference Act against discrimination Awareness raising positive contribution migrants

7. Role social partners Equal access to employment needs targeted and joint activity Act on workplace discrimination and harrassment Invest in language skills, training Works councils and workplace rep's to reach out, inform and support Unions to organise and represent

8. Safeguarding mobility Basic principles: equal treatment and fair competition ( EU Treaties !) Make national systems mobility proof EU rules of the game

9. EU rules of the game Host country principle wages and working conditions = basis free movement of workers Equal access social support systems Respect national industrial relations and collective bargaining Monitoring and enforcement labour standards Rethink rules on workers moving in framework of 'services'

10. Internal market rules versus national labour law 10

11. Proactive migration policy (1)‏ More focus on employment and development, less on security and repression Priority for investing in unemployed and underemployed workers already on EU territory, including migrants and ethnic minorities Emphasis on human rights: migrants are no merchandise > subcontracting-trafficking

12. Proactive migration policy (2)‏ Legal channels for economic migration at all skills levels, prevent two tier migration policy, selecting 'those we want' and expelling 'those we do not want' Prevent brain and youth drain Bridges out of 'illegality' for undocumented workers: recognition of social, labour and human rights “what price the tomatoes?!”

13. Priority 1: strengthen social dimension EU Mobility and migration: from restrictions to conditions Combining open borders and protection Strong involvement social partners Respect social systems EU is about social progress !