Augulis: special attention needs to be focused on inclusive and sustainable participation in the labour market and the quality of jobs

The Latvian Minister of Welfare Mr. Uldis Augulis introduced the programme of the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) in the area of employment and social policy to the Members of the European Parliament at the meeting of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL). The minister emphasized the inclusive and sustainable labour market participation as the major priority of the presidency by focusing in particular on the necessity to promote the employment of risk groups.

“We have selected inclusive and sustainable labour market participation as the major priority because it encompasses the necessity to promote employment and fight against poverty. In the discussions on inclusive and sustainable labour market participation the Latvian Presidency emphasises job quality. It is important what new jobs are created, including by implementation of the jobs, growth and investments package. We also focus on support measures and their efficiency for ensuring easier access to the labour market for various risk groups,” emphasized the Minister of Welfare.

In order to discuss these issues, the Latvian Presidency will hold an experts’ conference in the beginning of February and will also prepare Council Conclusions for adoption at the meeting of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs (EPSCO) Council in March. The conclusions will include particular steps that the Member States and the European Commission (EC) are invited to take to facilitate the development of more inclusive and better functioning labour markets.

The minister stressed that during the last two years a great deal has been done for solving the issue of youth unemployment, mainly with the help of the Youth Guarantee. The Latvian Presidency will pay increased attention also to other risk groups where the situation causes as much worries as the youth unemployment. This refers to the long-term unemployed persons and persons with disability. Approximately 50% of all the unemployed persons in the EU are long-term unemployed. The employment gap between persons with disability and persons without disability is approximately 20% and even exceeds 30% in several Member States. “

The Latvian Presidency will devote special attention to the disability policy in order to give a new impetus to the EU commitment to promote the equal rights of persons with disability.

We intend to hold a high level meeting on disability issues in Riga in May. The discussions will cover the issues like employment opportunities for persons with disability and the rights of children with disability,” underlined the minister.

As regards the job quality, the Latvian Presidency has commenced the work on preparing the Council Conclusions regarding health and safety at work for adoption at the EPSCO meeting in March. “I would like to emphasise that health and safety at work measures provide also economic gains helping companies and economies of the Member States in general to improve productivity. Each euro that is invested in health and safety returns to the company as minimum 1.6 euros thanks to the implemented disease prevention measures for employees. Therefore health and safety at work should be viewed as an investment and not as expenditure,” said U.Augulis.

U. Augulis is convinced that the involvement of social partners and the civic society in general is crucial for the purpose of implementing the above described intentions of the Latvian Presidency. The Latvian Presidency will focus on the issues of the social dialogue also in the ministerial discussions within the informal EPSCO scheduled to take place in Riga in April. In addition to that, also the Latvian social partners plan to organise several events for strengthening the social dialogue within the framework of the presidency.

As regards the EU legislative proposals that are currently on the agenda of the EP i and the Council, the minister referred to the proposal for a decision on the establishment of the European Platform for Prevention of Undeclared Work as a priority. “Undeclared work causes serious harm for employees, companies and the society as a whole. It has a negative impact for productivity, competition, job quality, skills development, life-long learning and budget revenues. All the Member States will take part in the Platform activities and this will be important means for cross-border cooperation at the EU level,” explained U.Augulis.

At the conclusion the minister invited the EMPL Members to participate in the events organised by the Latvian Presidency in Latvia.