Key points
The Committee
- finds that traditional economic growth drivers need to be supplemented by the creation of new elements capable of generating sustainable growth; productivity growth must be boosted, ways must be found to halt the decline in labour supply and the world of work needs to be made more attractive;
- believes that it is the European Union's task to support all Member States and companies in their efforts to increase sustainable productivity as an essential component of the Lisbon Strategy; the idea that quality and social innovations implemented in the workplace have a major impact on business success must be actively promoted;
- reiterates its proposal that a European index describing the quality of working life be devised that would serve as a basis for new initiatives relating to the improvement of the quality of working life; the strong and wide-ranging expertise which the EESC possesses would serve as a good basis for this work;
- urges the Commission to commission further studies on the relationship between the quality of working life and productivity;
- believes it would be useful to give emphasis to workplace innovation and new kinds of professional skills and management practices in EU innovation and training initiatives;
- proposes that the Member States implement programmes promoting the quality and productivity of work as part of their employment programmes and innovation policy;
- finds it essential that the debate and practical initiatives on sustainable productivity be continued; the Committee can make an important contribution to this process by presenting the views of civil society on the subject.