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Demography and the labour market: a challenge for the unions

Author : European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC)

The ETUC takes the issues raised by demographic challenges very seriously. They are having, and will continue to have, a profound impact on how we work and live in Europe. So we need to handle them correctly, without dramatisation or the imposition of answers which, without being neutral in social or economic terms, can have negative consequences in the long term. The answers to these challenges can only be integrated both in their identification and their implementation, and they must involve all the relevant players.

The trade union side is a crucial element here. The ETUC considers it important to start discussions on this subject internally, and to put forward the trade union experiences in terms of anticipating and managing demographic changes, more particularly in the workplace, for the sake of inter-generational solidarity. The issue is to create the right conditions so that young and less young people alike can find their place and thereby contribute to the economic and social development of our societies, as well as their own involvement and social well-being.

The actions are numerous, and the results very varied. Among the examples that we have been able to analyse are actions aimed at improving the skills of young and older workers in a lifelong learning setting, negotiating and promoting active policies in terms of employment and training, wage policies and organisational policies, and policies on the environment and the content of work based on quality as well as the protection of health and safety, promoting partnership between the social partners and also with the public authorities at the various levels.

Probably the most important lesson that we are drawing from this project is linked to the need to drive forward the mindsets of employees, employers and the public authorities with regard to the challenge posed and notably the opportunities opening up for getting quality established at the very heart of the demographic policies: the quality of the involvement in the workplace, the quality of work through a person’s active life, and the possibility of choosing to extend active working life. Effective, fair social protection policies need to be in place to enable these challenges to be managed.

I should thus like to extend warm thanks to my secretariat colleagues who have worked actively on this project, particularly Henri Lourdelle and Juliane Bir, as well as all the participants in the various phases of this project. Without them, it could never have been a success.

Maria Helena André
Deputy General Secretary

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