News
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15/05/2006
Dutch journalists win this year's 'For Diversity. Against Discrimination' EU press award
The first prize of the 'For Diversity. Against Discrimination' journalist award has been won by two Dutch journalists who work for the magazine Vrij Nederland. The winning article deals with ethnic and racial discrimination in the jobs market in The Netherlands. The second and the third prize were won by articles from Poland and Ireland respectively. The award for the photo category also goes to a Dutch journalist of Vrij Nederland. The winners of this year's awards will be officially announced today at a prize ceremony in Brussels by Vladimír Špidla, European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities.
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05/05/2006
EURES.EUROPA.EU – a new web address to fill 1 million job vacancies
With the launch of the new Europa web address on Europe Day (9 May), EURES, the European Jobs mobility portal, will also change its web address to: eures.europa.eu. The new EURES portal offers free access to about 1 million job vacancies in 30 European countries. With over 900,000 unique visitors per month during February and March, EURES has also become the most visited site managed by the European Commission.
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03/05/2006
Gender Equality: a step ahead, a roadmap for the future
Representatives from across Europe will meet in Brussels on 4-5 May to discuss the challenges in achieving real equality between women and men. The European Commission, European Parliament, EU Member States, acceding/candidate/EEA/EFTA countries, social partners, equality bodies and NGOs will all attend the conference 'Gender equality: a step ahead, a roadmap for the future'.
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28/04/2006
Transitional measures for the free movement of the workers forming the subject of the accession treaty of 2003 - Second phase 2006-2009
After the last enlargement on 1 May 2004 Member States have had the possibility to introduce transitional arrangements concerning the access to their labour markets by workers from eight New Member States (Workers from Malta and Cyprus did not fall under this exemption). The first phase of these transitional arrangements comes to an end on 1 May 2006.
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26/04/2006
Commission addresses specificities of social services
As social services modernise in many EU Member States, often in partnership with the private sector and non-profit organisations, all involved need clarification on how European law affects this evolving situation. A new Communication adopted today by the European Commission addresses this issue and the rapid changes in 'social services of general interest'. The Communication presents for the first time a list of these services' specific characteristics and reviews the support which they receive from various existing community instruments. It also opens up a process of wide consultation, open to all actors of the sectors, Member States, Social Partners, NGOs and operators of social services, through which the Commission will better take into account the specificities of those services when implementing EU legislation. These services differ from country to country, but can include sectors such as social housing, childcare or services towards families and persons in need. However, it does not deal with health services, which will fall under a separate initiative from the Commission.
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25/04/2006
Millions of workers' health to be protected by Europe's first multisector agreement
More than 2 million workers in many different sectors across Europe will be covered by the first European multisector agreement to be signed today. It will protect workers exposed to crystalline silica dust, which can lead to silicosis, a potentially fatal lung condition. Silicosis is also linked to other dangerous lung conditions, such as emphysema and lung cancer. Today's agreement aims to reduce workers' exposure to crystalline silica dust through good practice in the workplace. It will be signed by the social partners (trades unions and employers' representatives) in the presence of EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Vladimír Špidla.
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04/04/2006
Commission promotes jobs in services sector: posting of workers – less bureaucratic and quicker
The European Commission published today guidance to help Member State governments, businesses and workers understand their rights and obligations when companies post workers from one EU country to work in another. The Communication addresses practical difficulties encountered in implementing the Posted Workers Directive in the Member States. This will help to eliminate any confusion over EU legal requirements and limits when workers are posted and prevent social dumping.
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28/03/2006
Meeting offers last chance to review restrictions on free movement of workers in EU
With EU countries just four weeks away from having to decide whether to maintain restrictions on the free movement of workers for a further three years, some of the main players will meet today in Brussels to discuss the issue. EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Vladimir Spidla, will join representatives of 25 EU governments and national and European trade union and employer representatives (social partners) to discuss the projected decisions, as well as to look forward to how this second phase of restrictions will work.
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24/03/2006
Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean – working together for greater social solidarity
A high-level conference organised by the European Commission is to be held in Brussels on 27 and 28 March to discuss efforts to combat social inequality, poverty and exclusion in Latin America, the Caribbean and the European Union. The Commission and ministers from both sides of the Atlantic will debate social cohesion policies and exchange their experience on the subject. More than 200 representatives of civil society, business, trade unions, international organisations and universities are also expected. The results of the meeting are intended for Heads of State or Government from both regions, who are holding their fourth summit in Vienna on 12 May and set social cohesion as a common objective and key area of their relations at their previous summit in Guadalajara, Mexico, in 2004.
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24/03/2006
Less than one month left to make your voice heard on how to the EU should help inactive workers back into jobs
Less than one month remains before the end of a Commission consultation on what the EU should do to help excluded people back into work and support those for whom a job is not a viable option. With a shrinking and ageing workforce, the EU needs to make the best use of its single most precious resource: human capital. There are many groups who are far removed from the labour market in the EU, such as the long term unemployed, whose lack of work means they remain at high risk of falling into poverty. Some 16% of the EU population or around 72 million EU citizens are now at risk of poverty. Comprehensive policies are needed to promote employment, guarantee adequate income support and give better access to services.