Promoting decent work for all

Promoting decent work for all

Key points

The EESC welcomes the Commission Communication. It is confident that the Commission in close cooperation with the Member States, will make a major contribution to the realisation of Decent Work, both within the EU and in third countries. The Committee:

  • recommends the Commission to present an Action Plan on their Decent Work policies, both within and outside the EU, including budgetary data;
  • requests the Commission to develop adequate indicators for assessing the implementation of the Decent Work Agenda by the EU;
  • recommends the Commission to give a clear indication of the financial implications of its contribution to the promotion of decent work, both within and outside the EU; this should include information on the way it intends to support the ILO in the execution of its Decent Work Agenda; 
  • recommends the Commission to follow the same approach as recommended in the EESC opinion on the Social Dimension of Globalisation of March 2005: retain and reinforce the positive impact of Globalisation, while taking appropriate action so as to combat its negative repercussions; the Committee reiterates its conclusions of this opinion;
  • calls upon the Commission to analyse with Member States the reasons for non-ratification by receiving countries in relation to the UN International Convention on Migrants;
  • calls upon the Commission to promote the importance of occupational health and safety as one of the key factors in achieving decent work.

Decent Work policies, both within and outside the EU, can only succeed with full involvement of social partners and the broader civil society. In pursuing the Decent Work objective, policy coherence and coordination at all levels, including national, is of crucial importance.

A key factor in the promotion of Decent Work is strengthening the ILO supervisory system. The ratification and implementation in law and practice of the relevant ILO conventions within the EU and in relation to third countries is essential.

The EESC urges the Commission to involve the EESC in the preparation of the follow-up report to the Communication to be presented by the summer of 2008.