Flexibility and security
Flexicurity was the theme of a workshop organised by Forum Malta fl-Ewropa and Fondazzjoni Temi Zammit last week. The workshop, the fourth in a series organised as part of the Say EU And...Action! Project, seeks to advocate debate by civil...
Flexicurity was the theme of a workshop organised by Forum Malta fl-Ewropa and Fondazzjoni Temi Zammit last week. The workshop, the fourth in a series organised as part of the Say EU And...Action! Project, seeks to advocate debate by civil society.
Gabriella Pace, Forum Malta fl-Ewropa's chief executive, explained that flexicurity is now not only a fashionable buzzword, but also a well-diffused priority in the European Union. The concept of flexicurity has in fact moved rapidly to the centre of debate at European level due to the changes in lifestyles, which are invoking the need to find a balance between flexibility and security at the place of work. Dr Pace said that the pressures of globalisation and demographic change demand greater flexibility in labour markets, yet at the same time any moves in this direction should be accompanied by measures to improve workers' employment protection and social security.
The EC's communication on flexicurity was explained at length by Beata Zaborowska from the European Commission's DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities during her presentation on the common principles governing flexicurity. Ms Zaborowska argued that a political strategy is required to enhance labour markets while ensuring their flexibility, as well as, boosting employment security and creating modern social security systems. She said that flexicurity is being perceived as an instrument to attain the goals set by the Lisbon Agenda to increase employability and promote good work practices. Ms Zaborowska reiterated that lifelong learning strategies as well as effective labour market policies are only two of the components set by the Commission to attain flexicurity.
The key question addressed is how much flexibility and how much security are necessary for the ideal flexicurity strategy.
The Parliamentary Secretary for Public Dialogue and Information, Chris Said stated that flexicurity is a new way of looking at flexibility and security in employment. He said it promotes a combination of flexible labour markets with a high level of employment and income security. Dr Said said that flexicurity is more about creating employment opportunities and less about job protection.
ETC official Lucy Pace Gouder provided insight into the findings of studies carried out on family-friendly measures. On comparing the Maltese labour force to the EU average it transpires that the work rate for men is 3 per cent over that in the other member states, while that for women is below 20 per cent. In the Global Gender Gap Index 2007, Malta ranked 99 out of 128 countries in terms of economic participation and employment opportunities for women. Yet, from this research conducted by ETC, it was revealed that 44.8 per cent of women interviewed are willing to join the labour market.
The need to enhance female participation in the Maltese economy while maintaining our traditional family values was also acknowledged by Social Policy Minister John Dalli, who said that the pressures for flexibility are not only deriving from the need for efficiency but also from this social reality.
Say EU And... Action! is an EU-funded project launched in October 2007 and is being organised within the framework of Plan D - for Democracy, Dialogue and Debate on the future of the EU. It consists of a series of workshops and debates on a variety of topics.
Gabriella Pace, Forum Malta fl-Ewropa's chief executive, explained that flexicurity is now not only a fashionable buzzword, but also a well-diffused priority in the European Union. The concept of flexicurity has in fact moved rapidly to the centre of debate at European level due to the changes in lifestyles, which are invoking the need to find a balance between flexibility and security at the place of work. Dr Pace said that the pressures of globalisation and demographic change demand greater flexibility in labour markets, yet at the same time any moves in this direction should be accompanied by measures to improve workers' employment protection and social security.
The EC's communication on flexicurity was explained at length by Beata Zaborowska from the European Commission's DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities during her presentation on the common principles governing flexicurity. Ms Zaborowska argued that a political strategy is required to enhance labour markets while ensuring their flexibility, as well as, boosting employment security and creating modern social security systems. She said that flexicurity is being perceived as an instrument to attain the goals set by the Lisbon Agenda to increase employability and promote good work practices. Ms Zaborowska reiterated that lifelong learning strategies as well as effective labour market policies are only two of the components set by the Commission to attain flexicurity.
The key question addressed is how much flexibility and how much security are necessary for the ideal flexicurity strategy.
The Parliamentary Secretary for Public Dialogue and Information, Chris Said stated that flexicurity is a new way of looking at flexibility and security in employment. He said it promotes a combination of flexible labour markets with a high level of employment and income security. Dr Said said that flexicurity is more about creating employment opportunities and less about job protection.
ETC official Lucy Pace Gouder provided insight into the findings of studies carried out on family-friendly measures. On comparing the Maltese labour force to the EU average it transpires that the work rate for men is 3 per cent over that in the other member states, while that for women is below 20 per cent. In the Global Gender Gap Index 2007, Malta ranked 99 out of 128 countries in terms of economic participation and employment opportunities for women. Yet, from this research conducted by ETC, it was revealed that 44.8 per cent of women interviewed are willing to join the labour market.
The need to enhance female participation in the Maltese economy while maintaining our traditional family values was also acknowledged by Social Policy Minister John Dalli, who said that the pressures for flexibility are not only deriving from the need for efficiency but also from this social reality.
Say EU And... Action! is an EU-funded project launched in October 2007 and is being organised within the framework of Plan D - for Democracy, Dialogue and Debate on the future of the EU. It consists of a series of workshops and debates on a variety of topics.