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EuroCommerce
and Uni-Europa Commerce EuroCommerce and Uni-Europa Commerce represent employers and employees in commerce. Commerce and distribution employ more than 22 million people in the European Union. This is 16 per cent of total employment. Commerce is an industry, which can thrive only in an environment where stability and openness allows all people to go about their daily lives as fully accepted partners in their workplaces, communities and countries. Article 13 of the Amsterdam Treaty prohibits any discrimination based on the race, ethnic or national origin or religion. The European Employment Guidelines 1999 call for special attention be given to groups and individuals experiencing difficulty in acquiring skills and access to the labour market in order to promote their integration. The European Commission Communication of 25th March 1998, concerning an action plan against racism states that the social partners have a major part to play in preventing racial tensions at the work place and ensuring equal opportunities in employment generally. The European social partners in commerce recognise that the visible role of retail and wholesale trade and their active social dialogue give them an obligation to address the problems of racism and xenophobia. Although public authorities must take the lead in combating these unacceptable social phenomenon, the European social partners in commerce believe that enterprises and their personnel can and should play their own role to promote the same objectives. The European social partners in commerce strongly support the important role given in the European Union to the fight against racism and xenophobia and affirm their preparedness to contribute within their means eradicating this social disgrace, which is also against the interest of retail and wholesale trade. EuroCommerce and Uni-Europa Commerce underline that racist and xenophobic behaviour constitutes a violation of the dignity and human rights of people against whom this is directed and is incompatible with the European way of life. It is also in conflict with the integration process in Europe, which is both welcome and necessary to assure the security and well-being of all people on our continent. As an industry which more than any other is in daily contact with all Europeans, commerce is prepared to show a good example through its own approach and activity. Having regard to the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Rights and Principles at Work and confirming their own recent agreement within the European social dialogue, EuroCommerce and Uni-Europa Commerce emphasize that any discrimination on the grounds of race, ethnic or national origin, religion or any other comparable reason is in contravention with the fundamental principles of human rights and completely unacceptable. Commerce enterprises and any persons representing these enterprises must abstain from such discrimination in all their activities and functions, including employment, training, the setting of wages and defining working conditions. The European social partners in commerce recommend that enterprises and their associations as part of their social dialogue on different levels establish guidelines and codes of conduct, which contribute to combating racism and xenophobia and promoting non-discrimination. They also recommend that the problems of racism and xenophobia be included in all applicable training programmes, to create a broad awareness of the necessity for all commerce employers and employees to consider and address the issue in their daily activities. EuroCommerce and Uni-Europa Commerce urge the public authorities in Europe to enact measures which improve access for minorities to education and vocational training, including adult education. Particular attention must be given to such training measures which promote the possibilities of members of minorities to participate in all aspects of working life and society on an equal basis with others. This must include active and sufficient information activities directed at personnel management and other employer representatives with responsibility for personnel and training. They also call on all enterprises in commerce to effectively inform their personnel about the opportunities offered in this respect and to take measures to promote the access to training of particularly minority members of their staff. Within their social dialogue, EuroCommerce and Uni-Europa Commerce will continue to monitor and to discuss developments in connection with racism and xenophobia and, when possible, agree on additional contributions and measures. |
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