Cross-industry and sectoral social dialogue - Metal industry

Social partners

Workers' organisations	Employers' organisations
industriAll European Trade Union	Council of European Employers of the Metal, Engineering and Technology-Based Industries (CEEMET)

Social dialogue in this sector covers:

the manufacture of fabricated metal products, computer, electronic and optical products, electrical equipment, machinery, motor vehicles and other transport equipment,
the repair and installation of machinery and equipment.

The activities covered in this sector are those defined by NACE (Rev. 2) code C24.4 (Manufacture of basic precious and other non-ferrous metals), as well as codes C25 (Manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment), C26 (Manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products), C27 (Manufacture of electrical equipment), C28 (Manufacture of machinery and equipment), C29 (Manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers) and C30 (Manufacture of other transport equipment).

In the EU, the metal industry represents 200.000 companies with some 14 million employees, mainly highly qualified ones and spends 15% on R&D.

Metal industries make up the largest industrial sector in Europe in terms of both jobs and added value. Major challenges include globalisation and international competition, relocation, demographic change, digitalisation and environmental concerns.

Focus areas and projects

The Committee is currently focusing on:

strengthening the industrial base (industry 4.0)
joint study on developing an efficient company environment,
attractiveness of vocational education and training,
setting up a list of joint economic and industrial indicators and qualitative assessment of the situation,
digitalisation of work,
information exchange of views and feedback on relevant projects.