Invitation

HIGH-LEVEL EVENT “The future of work and of social dialogue” CONCEPT NOTE Santiago de Compostela September 22nd, 2023 0  CONCEPT NOTE This high-level event will bring together Ministers from EU Member States, representatives from EU institutions (European Parliament, European Commission, European Economic and Social Committee), European and Spanish social partners and experts to discuss on “The future of work and of social dialogue”. Having overcome the various crises of the past few years, and while advancing towards 2030, the European Union is now tackling the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and an economic context characterized by high inflation, structural changes such as the twin digital and green transitions, and demographic challenges caused by population ageing, migratory movements and the depopulation of certain territories. To manage the uncertainty and insecurity that all of these situations are generating, the European citizenry is calling for responses that ensure well-being by improving living and working conditions and by strengthening social protection. The world of work and labour relations must also address these changes and build a future that makes decent work a key priority. We must, therefore, reflect on how to advance more rapidly toward guaranteeing inclusive economic growth with stable jobs, fair pay, adequate working conditions, more and better safety and health at work, equality, non-discrimination and diversity at work, and work-life balance based on co-responsibility. We must also reflect on how to place digitalization and the green transition at the service of workers, accompanying these structural changes with the recognition of new labour and social rights to ensure that these transitions are just. Any discussion about the future of work is necessarily a discussion about the future of social dialogue. Firstly, a discussion about social dialogue between public authorities and social partners, at both the European and national levels, based on the conviction that reforms resulting from social dialogue have more lasting and effective outcomes. Secondly, a discussion about the need for renewed bipartite social dialogue at all levels—European and national, inter-sectoral, sectoral and company-based—that is called to include new issues in order to adapt to the challenges that the twin transitions represent for work, and to identify new spaces for cooperation between companies and workers and their representatives. 1 This event will enable the different participants to exchange opinions in three successive panel discussions dedicated to democracy at work, the use of artificial intelligence and algorithms at work and green collective bargaining. Panel discussion 1: Democracy at work The idea of democracy at work is at the heart of the identity of the political space that is the EU today. This idea is directly related to the concept of citizenship, and is based on an understanding of work as a key dimension in people’s lives, not only because it is their principal source of income, but also owing to the social and personal aspects of work, and even its physical and mental health aspects. As highlighted in a recent opinion by the European Economic and Social Committee: “Mechanisms and legal instruments serving the purpose of democracy at work make companies more resilient, more economically successful and at the same time better able to deliver on employment and decent work. Democracy at work as a guiding concept should cover all workers and types of work as well as all workplaces, be they private, public or social in nature, irrespective of size, sector or other organisational aspects. The circumstances of SMEs should be considered. Empirical evidence shows that workers' voices offer the flexibility and room for manoeuvre necessary at workplace level in order to adapt to structural changes”. Given the central role of work in our daily lives, it is crucial for workers to be able to voice an opinion on all matters affecting them. For years, the EU has had a legislative framework on informing and consulting the workers of both national and transnational companies. Today, this legislative framework needs fresh impetus for several reasons: the dizzying pace of technological evolution, numerous innovations in corporate organizational structure, new emerging risks for workers, the institutional shortcomings detected in recent years, and the need for organizations to constantly adapt to change. This impetus must be focused, on the one hand, on strengthening the effectiveness of the right to information and consultation, thereby fostering a management culture based on dialogue and negotiation, with consensus as a constant objective. On the other hand, it must also seek to increase worker’s participation in corporate decision-making processes, based on positive experiences in different Member States where workers participate in corporate management and control bodies. 2 More democracy at work can contribute effectively to the social construction of the European project and to addressing the challenges posed by digitalization and the green transition in the world of work. Panel discussion 2: Artificial intelligence, algorithms and work Companies are beginning to delegate core management and organizational functions to algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI), thereby increasing their capacity for control. This issue will only become more and more relevant as these systems take on an even greater role in the management of broad social and administrative areas, including labour relations on digital platforms as well as any other economic sector. The impact of the use of AI and algorithms on workers’ rights is significant, given that they are now used in all the central areas of labour relations: staff recruitment and hiring, task allocation, performance evaluation, and decision-making regarding promotions and terminations of contracts. Moreover, their use could give rise to specific risks in terms of the protection of fundamental principles and rights at work, in particular as regards equality and non-discrimination against vulnerable groups: people at risk of exclusion, persons with disabilities, people from different origins and ethnicities and members of the LGBTQI+ communities. The EU and national regulatory frameworks do not offer sufficient guarantees to give an adequate and just response to this situation. This is why we must advocate a use of AI and algorithms that is subject to human control, and digitalization at the service of workers, respecting their individual and collective rights. This calls for reflection, for example, on the need to build decision-making algorithms that focus on workers’ well-being, and to establish the means to identify and eliminate algorithmic discrimination or bias from automatic learning systems. Some countries have adopted legislation requiring companies to guarantee algorithmic transparency and to inform workers’ representatives about their use in organizing work. Reflection on all of these situations and on the roles corresponding to legislation, social dialogue and collective bargaining is essential to strengthening the protective function of labour law, without relinquishing the benefits of digitalization for companies. 3 Panel discussion 3: Green collective bargaining The decarbonization of the economy, energy efficiency, the circular economy and (more generally speaking) climate change, are today core issues on the policy agenda of the European Union and of its 27 Member States, as reflected in the European Green Deal and the European Union’s goal to become climate neutral by 2050, the Fit for 55 programme, and the ecological aspects of different national recovery and resilience plans. It is indisputable that social dialogue between EU institutions, governments and social partners must play a key role in the definition and implementation of environmental and energy policies and, in general, of all policies related to the green transition, owing to its impact on employment and work. The fair transition towards climate neutrality is a key challenge for our times, in addition to being a crosscutting issue that affects many areas, including labour and social aspects. This is why the Council Recommendation of June 16th 2022 on ensuring a fair transition towards climate neutrality invited the Member States to adopt and implement policy packages to promote a just transition, in close cooperation with social partners. In particular, their intervention is considered decisive to actions aimed at offering support to those people, sectors and territories that are most affected by the transition. As indicated in the Commission Communication “Strengthening social dialogue in the European Union: harnessing its full potential for managing fair transitions”, social dialogue and collective bargaining are essential to identifying balanced solutions that are shared by companies and workers’ representatives and that promote a just transition towards a decarbonized economy and to favour a green and social Europe. In view of certain agreements in a number of European sectors and companies, it is essential that we advance towards green collective bargaining in which the social partners, at the different levels of negotiation, play a significant role in making companies more sustainable, more resilient and more productive, while providing decent work. The impact on employment and on territorial and social cohesion, creation of green jobs, movement between different activity sectors and the training and reskilling of workers to acquire the necessary skills, safety and health at work, urban mobility to access work centres, and energy efficiency in production and in the performance of work (matters in which the gender perspective must be mainstreamed), could all be included in a green collective bargaining process. 4  PROGRAMME Friday, September 22nd 2023. “Comedor Real” of the Parador. 09:00-9:30 Opening session of the event. 09:30-10:45 Panel 1: Democracy at work. 10:45-11:15 Coffee break. 11:15-12:30 Panel 2: Artificial intelligence, algorithms and work. 12:30-13:00 Family picture on the Staircase of the “Plaza del Obradoiro” in Santiago de Compostela. 13:00-14:00 Lunch at the Parador. 14:00-15:15 Panel 3: Green collective bargaining. 15:15-15:45 Conclusions and closing remarks. 5 0  PROGRAMME Thursday, September 21st. Afternoon: Participants arrival to Santiago de Compostela. 18:20 - 19:30: Visit to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. 20:30: Reception dinner in the “Salón de Arte” of the Parador. Friday, September 22nd. Venue: “Comedor Real” of the Parador. 09:00 - 09:10: Participants arrival. 09:10 - 09:30: Inaugural Session. • Yolanda Díaz, Second Vice-president and Minister of Labour and Social Economy of the Government of Spain. • Nicolas Schmit, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights. 09:30 - 10:45: Panel 1: Democracy at work.1 • Moderator: Reiner Hoffmann, member of the European Economic and Social Committee, rapporteur for the EESC opinion on democracy at work. • Panellists: o Yolanda Díaz, Second Vice-president and Minister of Labour and Social Economy of the Government of Spain. o Ana Mendes Godinho, Minister of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security of Portugal. 1 All the people attending the event will be able to participate in the three panels. 1  o Sophia Metelius, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Employment and Integration of Sweden. o Oliver Röpke, President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). o Esther Lynch, Secretary General of the European Trade Union Confederation. o Maxime Cerutti, Director of Social Affairs of Business Europe. • With the participation of the experts: o Thomas Haipeter, Institute of Works, Skills and Training at the University of Duisburg-Essen. o Isabelle Ferreras, FNRS/University of Louvain, Belgium. 10:45 - 11:15: Coffee break. 11:15 - 12:30: Panel 2: Artificial intelligence, algorithms and work. • Moderator: Nayla Glaise, President of Eurocadres • Panellists: o Pierre-Yves Dermagne, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Employment of Belgium. o Boris Zürcher, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Training and Research of Switzerland. o Thea Lee, Deputy Undersecretary of the U.S. Department of Labor. o Ivailo Kalfin, Executive Director, European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions. o Stefano Scarpetta, Director of Employment, Labour and Social Affairs, OECD. o Cosmin Boiangiu, Executive Director of the European Labour Authority. 2  • With the participation of the expert: o Francesca Bria, President of the Italian Foundation for Innovation. 12:30 - 13:00: Family photo on the steps of the Plaza del Obradoiro in Santiago de Compostela. 13:00 - 14:00: Lunch at the Parador. 14:00 - 15:15: Panel 3: Green collective bargaining. • Moderator: María del Carmen Barrera, member of the European Economic and Social Committee, rapporteur for the EESC opinion on green collective bargaining. • Panellists: o Luka Mesec, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities of Slovenia. o Guðmundur Ingi Guðbrandsson, Minister of Social Affairs and Labour Market of Iceland. o Joaquín Pérez, Secretary of State for Employment and Social Economy of the Government of Spain. o Valeria Ronzitti, Secretary General of SGI Europe. o Véronique Willems, Secretary General of SME United. o Tea Jarc, Confederal Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation. o Ernest Urtasun, Member of European Parliament. • With the participation of the expert: o Béla Galgóczi, Researcher from the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI). 3 15:15 - 15:45: Conclusions and closing remarks. o Oliver Röpke, President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). o Joaquín Pérez, Secretary of Employment and Social Economy of the Government of Spain. 4 Saatja: LOVELACE FERNANDEZ, MARINA <[email protected]> Saadetud: 06.09.2023 14:11 Adressaat: <"Signe Riisalo">; <[email protected]> Koopia: IGLESIAS SANCHEZ-CERVERA, JAIME <[email protected]>; LOVELACE FERNANDEZ, MARINA <[email protected]>; RIESCO ROCHE, RAUL <[email protected]>; CESPEDES RODRIGO, RICARDO <[email protected]>; RODRIGUEZ RUIZ, MARIA MAR <[email protected]>; BURLI FORNI, ELENA <[email protected]>; NUÑEZ LAUFF, ANA MARIA <[email protected]>; <"Riina Sikkut">; <"SM Info"> Teema: Important - Invitation to Minister to high-level event Santiago de Compostela - Spanish EU Presidency Tähtsus: Kõrgeim Manused: 2023 1 Invitation letter Santiago de Compostela Sept 21-22.pdf; 2023 3 Concept Note.pdf; 2023 Programme Santiago Sept 21st 22nd.pdf Dear Estonian friends, Greetings from Madrid, hoping this mail finds you well. We are contacting you regarding our forthcoming high-level event to be held in Santiago de Compostela on 21st-22nd September, on "The future of work and social dialogue". We would be honoured to have a ministerial level representative from Estonia. Since the event concerns not only labour but also social issues, we address our invitation to both Ministries, Minister of Social Protection, represented by Mr Signe Riisalo, as well as Health and Labour, represented by Mr Peep Peterson, hoping that one of them will be able to come. Please find below an invitation on behalf of the Second Vice-President of the Spanish Government and Minister of Labour and Social Economy, Yolanda Díaz, together with the concept note and the programme of the event. As you can see from the programme, several Ministers and high-level personalities are confirmed in the event. Please, if you would be so kind as to confirm participation in the next few days, we would appreciate it. Warm regards, Marina Lovelace Deputy head of Unit for International Relations Ministry of Labor and Social Economy Paseo de la Castellana, 63 - 28003 Madrid (Spain) [email protected] +34 91 363 06 84 / +34 629 36 10 20 De: SGRSI Enviado el: miércoles, 12 de julio de 2023 13:57 Para: 'Seili Suder' <[email protected]> CC: IGLESIAS SANCHEZ-CERVERA, JAIME <[email protected]>; LOVELACE FERNANDEZ, MARINA <[email protected]>; CESPEDES RODRIGO, RICARDO <[email protected]>; RODRIGUEZ RUIZ, MARIA MAR <[email protected]>; BURLI FORNI, ELENA <[email protected]>; 'NÚÑEZ LAUFF, ANA MARÍA' <[email protected]>; '[email protected]' <[email protected]>; '[email protected]' <[email protected]> Asunto: IMPORTANT - EU Spanish Presidency high-level event: “The Future of work and of social dialogue” (Santiago de Compostela, September 21-22). Dear Estonian friends and colleagues, We hope this e-mail finds you well. Following our previous exchanges regarding the high-level event on “The future of work and of social dialogue” to be held in Santiago de Compostela the September 21st and 22nd, we have the pleasure of sending you the invitation letter to the event. You can also find attached the concept note with the programme of the event and the practical information note (PIN). For any doubt or incident related to the registration to the event, please consult the PIN and contact the following e-mail of the organisation: [email protected] Please, don’t hesitate to contact us should you have any question. Kind regards, Unit for International Relations Ministry of Labour and Social Economy Paseo de la Castellana, 63 – 28003 Madrid (Spain) E-mail: [email protected] Antes de imprimir piensa en tu responsabilidad y compromiso con el MEDIO AMBIENTE! 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