Cross-industry and sectoral social dialogue - Steel Sectors of activity :SelectAgricultureAudiovisualBankingCentral government administrationsChemical industryCivil aviationCommerceConstructionContract cateringEducation ElectricityExtractive industriesFood and drink industryFootwearFurnitureGasGraphical industryHospitals and healthcareHotel, restaurant and catering (HORECA)Industrial cleaningInland waterwaysInsuranceLive performanceLocal and regional governmentsMaritime transportMetal industryPaper industryPersonal services/Hairdressing PortsPostal servicesPrivate securityProfessional footballRailwaysRoad transportSea fisheriesShipbuildingSteelSugarTanning and leatherTelecommunicationsTemporary agency workTextile and clothingWoodworking Social partners Workers' organisations Employers' organisations industriAll European Trade Union European Steel Association (EUROFER) Social dialogue in this sector covers: manufacture of basic iron, steel and ferro-alloys. The activities covered in this sector are those defined by NACE (Rev. 2) classes 24.1 (Manufacture of basic iron and steel and of ferro alloys), 24.2 (Manufacture of tubes, pipes, hollow profiles and related fittings, of steel) 24.3 (Manufacture of other products of first processing of steel). The steel sector employs around 450,000 people in the EU. However, the number of people directly employed in this area has fallen by 20% since 2007. There are 528 production facilities in 24 EU countries. They account for about 10% of total global production. Industry issues inlcude high energy prices (compared to main competitors – China, Japan, South Korea, the US, Russia) unfair trade practices by non-EU countries. The social partners want to obtain fair trading conditions for EU producers through improved EU trade defence instruments (TDI). Under the EU's emissions trading system (ETS), the EU's steel industry has been identified as having a 'very high risk' of carbon leakage. The social partners are calling for changes to the ETS proposal to safeguard the global competitiveness of the EU steel industry. Key areas The Committee is currently focusing on: strengthening the industrial base global competitiveness of the European steel industry – follow-up on joint analysis EU steel skills council project – follow-up apprentices in the EU steel industry, boosting employment with high quality jobs participating in High Level Expert Group (HLG) on energy intensive industries contributing to Steel Action Plan climate change policy industrial policy on raw materials and trade dealing with an ageing workforce small businesses, health, safety and wellbeing at work Activities and meetings Check the library entries for this sectoral social dialogue committee. Achievements/Joint texts Check the social dialogue texts database