Community news|11/01/17

Update on the future European Pillar of Social Rights

Home > The news of EUROGIP and occupational risks in Europe > Update on the future European Pillar of Social Rights

The European Social Insurance Platform (ESIP) held a conference on “The European Pillar of Social Rights: perspectives for social security” on the occasion of its 20th anniversary.

In her opening speech, Marianne Thyssen, European Commissioner for Employment, said that the European Pillar of Social Rights aimed to establish a “social compass” for fair and dynamic labour markets. She stressed the fact that these markets are increasingly flexible, that the number of self-employed workers is increasing (especially among young people) and that they are not well covered (frequent changes of job position, combination of salaried and self-employed work). She mentioned the launch of an initiative concerning access to social insurance for flexible and self-employed workers. Finally, the Commissioner underlined the importance of transnational dialogue between social security systems to identify and transpose good practices.

Allan Larsson, Special Advisor to President Juncker for this European Pillar, felt that Europe is at a crossroads: after its construction in the 1950s and 1960s, we saw deregulation from the 1970s and then globalization and the financial crisis of 2008 which shattered a number of fundamental principles. Globalization, European economic integration and new technologies have resulted in major structural changes and growing insecurity for workers and their families. Social policies must ensure security in this period of change, low growth and high unemployment. Allan Larsson considers that the European Pillar of Social Rights should become a Social Pact, on a par with the Stability Pact. He stressed that this pillar aimed to ensure good working conditions and good social conditions.

Read the ESIP Press release

loupe1The ESIP brings together 40 national social security organizations from 15 EU Member States and Switzerland. This platform thus covers more than 240 million Europeans insured by social security systems. Its main roles are to encourage exchanges of practices and information between its members and to defend its values of solidarity and equal access for all to social security benefits in the EU via common positions.

Discover other news

Abroad

29/09/23

SWEDEN: Serious accidents and long-term sick leave in the food industry

Workers in the food industry run a higher risk of serious accidents at work than other occupational groups. The average risk over the period 2017-2021 was 9.7 serious accidents at work per 1,000 employees. It was 15.5 for butchers and 8.9 for machine operators, who suffered the most serious accidents at work. Bakers and confectioners, although less affected, were still affected, with a rate of 5.3.

Community news

29/09/23

Working at home and OHS with a new OiRA tool

Teleworking has developed strongly since the COVID-19 pandemic, transforming the way companies operate and employees work. However, the issue of occupational health and safety (OHS) remains fundamental. A new interactive online risk assessment tool (OiRA) offers a practical solution for employers and teleworkers, helping them to create safer and healthier home workspaces.

Abroad

22/09/23

BELGIUM: what to expect from occupational illnesses in 2022

In 2022, around 38,500 people received compensation for permanent disability due to an occupational disease. And nearly 13,000 workers (private sector and provincial or local administrations, APL) filed a claim for compensation; 211 deaths were recognised, 73% of which were due to asbestos, 17% to silicosis and 10% to other diseases. These are the findings of the Fedris “Statistical Report on Occupational Diseases” 2022.