By the EESC's Workers’ Group

Now that the new college of commissioners has been unveiled, we cannot help but notice that the post of the commissioner for social rights and jobs has been scrapped. In its place, we now have a commissioner for ‘People, Skills, and Preparedness’. Using the word ‘People’ begs a lot of questions. After all, shouldn’t almost all the other portfolios also be about people? We could also comment on the jargon-heavy nature of the word ‘Preparedness’, which also appears in one other portfolio.

However, this is about what’s missing, and what’s been left behind. Social policy and employment have faded into the background, all in the name of competitiveness. The cryptic and sometimes colourful nature of some other job titles speaks for itself: from Implementation and Simplification to Prosperity and Water Resilience, to name but a few.

A portfolio for Employment and Social Policy has existed since the 1970s, but it was renamed Jobs and Social Rights in 2019. It included key policies, such as the European Pillar of Social Rights and its far-reaching initiatives. Quality jobs, equality, social dialogue and working and living conditions remain fundamental issues for the very survival of our democracies.

However, instead of employment, we now have skills. The idea that many of our current problems stem from skills gaps seems to be widely accepted in some circles. Companies struggle to find the skilled workforce they need. And it is no surprise. Entry jobs require several years of job experience, and it is not uncommon to see requirements for PhDs, a number of languages, and a long list of certifications for skills that could be learnt on the job in just a few months. On top of this, very often the salaries offered will barely cover living costs. And this is for qualified positions, which already get the better end of the stick.

It is deeply worrying, as the Commission often says, to observe this haphazard distribution of jargon combined with a narrative clearly dominated by competitiveness. It seems to suggest that ensuring well-being, quality jobs and decent wages is already mission accomplished and now the only issue left is to close the skills gap. However, this gap seems to exist mainly in the new college of commissioners, unable to grasp the current situation, put it into perspective, and offer realistic solutions. Let’s hope that beyond the initial portfolios and beneath the surface, we can find solid proposals to strengthen social and labor rights, democracy, and the fight against climate change.