Europe-wide social dialogue between port workers and employers

Brussels, 20-6-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — The European Commission welcomes the new social dialogue committee in the port sector launched today with port authorities, terminal operators, dockers and other port workers across the EU. 1.5 million workers are employed in European ports, with the same amount again employed indirectly across the 22 EU maritime Member States. This new committee will examine the challenges faced by the sector and help contribute to its long term success. Ports are not only engines of economic development and sources of prosperity, more cargo, cruise ships and ferries in our ports means also more jobs and new opportunities.

Commission Vice-President Siim Kallas, responsible for transport said: “European ports have a huge potential to create quality jobs, attract investment and contribute to growth. The legal framework that I proposed on 23 May will simplify procedures, ease access to port services and attract investments, along with the Trans-European Transport Network guidelines and the Connecting European Facility being agreed by Parliament and Council. However, port workers must also be well-trained and their working environment adapted. The social dialogue will contribute to it.”

László Andor, European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion commented: “We need to reinforce the role of social partners at all levels if we are to come out of the crisis and preserve the benefits of our EU social model and social cohesion. The discussions in the ports social dialogue committee will contribute to improving the working lives of dockers, for example on improved health and safety at work and working conditions. The involvement of social partners in government reforms is vital, in particular in a context of modernisation of port infrastructure and government spending cuts”.

The new committee is holding its inaugural meeting in Brussels today. It brings together the European Sea Ports Organisation, the European Federation of Private Port Terminal Operators, the European Transport Federation and the International Dockers Coordination Europe, representing dockers and port workers in European ports.

Background

The committee’s work programme for the next years reflects the commitment of the social partners to address these challenges jointly, covering topics such as: training and qualifications; attractiveness to young workers; health and safety; and promotion of female employment.

On 23 May 2013, the Commission presented to the European Parliament and to the Council a legislative proposal for modernising port services and attracting port investments in the EU. In this difficult economic period, ports and maritime logistics are continuing their recovery, facilitating trade for EU export and contributing to the competitiveness of European industries.

In the next 15-20 years, European ports will face a challenging growth in traffic, and need to adapt to new generations of ships coming into service, new energy trades in gas and biomass and new logistic complexities regarding terminal operations and connections of ports with the hinterland.

This prospected growth will create many new jobs, in particular for young workers. However, the technology developments are changing training requirements. An increased demand for technical training will go hand in hand with a stronger focus on IT technologies applicable to cargo-handling and logistics inside the port. At the same time, these new requirements could affect working conditions and give rise to new risks and hazards for workers.

As part of an action plan accompanying its legislative proposal, the Commission agreed to provide technical and administrative support to the social dialogue in order to address these common challenges.

European social dialogue refers to discussions, consultations, negotiations and joint actions involving organisations representing the two sides of industry (employers and workers). It is part of the European social model and is recognised as a tool of good governance and of social subsidiarity. It has also demonstrated its role as an instrument of social resilience, helping to mitigate the negative social impact of a recession and crisis.

For more information

Commission proposes upgrade for 300 key seaports IP/13/451

Europe’s Seaports 2030 MEMO/13/448

European social dialogue: http://ec.europa.eu/socialdialogue

European ports – an engine for growth: http://ec.europa.eu/transport/modes/maritime/infographics_en.htm

László Andor’s website: http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/andor/index_en.htm

Follow László Andor on Twitter: http://twitter.com/LaszloAndorEU

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