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New
social dialogue agreement was signed in Barcelona: UNI-Europa Commerce and EuroCommerce want to help commercial workers stay longer at the job, if they want it. They advocate an ‘age neutral’ approach to employment relations and call for special support for older workers when needed. An agreement on voluntary guidelines was signed in Barcelona on 11 March, just days before the European Union Summit which had the issue prominently on its agenda.
In their guidelines, EuroCommerce and UNI-Europa recognise that older people may approach their work in different ways from those of their younger colleagues. This should be taken into account when designing jobs and work processes. Accepting age diversity helps to find new ways of solving problems and approaching tasks, the social partners say. No
contradiction with UNI-Europa Commerce and EuroCommerce state that the challenge is to allow older workers to remain longer at the job whilst promoting work opportunities for younger people. This may be achieved through flexible retirement schemes during the last active years. The needs of individual workers, enterprises and societies can well be reconciled, the social partners say. They also draw attention to the need to support training. Incentives should encourage workers of all ages to participate. It is important for older workers to have equal access to training opportunities. Also they should benefit from programmes, courses and seminars. This is particularly important when new technologies and work processes are being introduced. Active social dialogue The European social dialogue for commerce is particularly active. Several agreements have been concluded during the last years, on workers' rights, telework, racism and xenophobia and other subjects. UNI-Europa Commerce and EuroCommerce have also participated in the European employment debate, presenting several joint statements and opinions to the European Council of Ministers. In various research projects, labour issues in retail and wholesale trade have been targeted. Round table meetings in future EU member states have helped local social partners to participate in the accession process. |
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