The World Employment Confederation–Europe (formerly Eurociett) looks into the future of work and urges policymakers to cooperate with the employment industry to reform and adapt European labour regulation

As the world of work becomes increasingly flat and interconnected, reformed and adapted European labour policies and regulation are required to deal with issues that go beyond national borders. The World Employment Confederation–Europe sees this as essential to embrace the many structural shifts that are currently taking place in Europe. Globalisation, growing diversity of contractual arrangements, new job and career expectations, digitalisation and demographics are all major drivers reshaping the way we work.

In a white paper released today on the “The Future of Work”, the World Employment Confederation-Europe analyses in detail how employment conditions are changing around the world and provide a number of policy recommendations on how to adapt accordingly. Research shows that countries that have adopted smart regulation on employment services are more competitive delivering flexibility and security for both companies and workers[1]. As reflected in the white paper, the employment industry is key to providing a wide range of services to meet candidates’ individual expectations and working conditions. Equally important, the industry offers the business community sustainable solutions to more efficiently contract and allocate labour.

“We are experiencing a new reality of work and our industry is at the core of this change, playing an important role as labour market enablers and allowing for improved access to work and adaptation. Faced with new challenges, our industry has evolved from providing candidates and filling job vacancies to creating innovative workforce solutions and shaping careers. With IT becoming a key component of employment services, the industry is moving towards more tailored-made, output based and talent oriented solutions” explains Annemarie Muntz, president of the World Employment Confederation-Europe

As a consequence, the World Employment Confederation-Europe calls on European policymakers to cooperate with the employment industry and all other relevant stakeholders to adjust labour regulation and seize the opportunities the new era of work will bring. Indeed, the employment industry is playing an important role as labour market enablers: each year the industry helps 11.6 million people on the labour market and supports 1.5 million companies to adapt to a changing world of work in Europe. Adapting regulation will contribute to reduce the mismatch between supply and demand of work and will lead to better functioning labour markets in Europe.

“We are not facing an employment crisis but a work revolution in which intertwined labour markets require more supra-national regulation while respecting national differences”, states Denis Pennel, managing director of the World Employment Confederation-Europe. “The adjustment of European employment policies and instruments to the new reality of work will be crucial to build a sustainable economic and social environment. This should be based on transparent, fair and sensible principles that reward risk-taking and innovation while being consistent with the policies to be established at global level. European policymakers will have to play a greater role in setting guiding principles and rules in the future.”

In the EU context, important instruments of supra-national regulation on the employment industry have already been adopted, notably the EU Directive on temporary agency work and the Posting of Workers Directive. These up-to-date instruments do not need to be changed, but properly enforced and implemented at national level. However, an important role can be played by the EU in ensuring a level playing field between labour market intermediaries and enhancing cooperation between public and private employment services.

Bye bye Eurociett, welcome to the World Employment Confederation-Europe

Because of the changing world of work Eurociett has decided to rebrand itself to the World Employment Confederation–Europe, highlighting its extended territory: the world of employment. Under its new name, the trade association representing the employment industry across Europe will keep striving for better functioning labour markets, building on its enhanced expertise and thought leadership on the changing world of work.

“Our new name better reflects the evolution of our membership, including national federations and companies across Europe. Today, our members provide a broad range of HR services including agency work, direct recruitment, career management, recruitment process outsourcing and managed services in order to simplify the increasing complexity of the labour market” concludes Denis Pennel.

ENDS

About the World Employment Confederation-Europe

The World Employment Confederation-Europe is the voice of the employment industry at the European level, representing labour market enablers in 29 European countries and 7 of the largest international workforce solutions companies. The World Employment Confederation-Europe brings unique access to and engagement with European policymakers (EU-Institutions) and stakeholders (trade unions, academic world, think tanks, NGOs).  The World Employment Confederation-Europe strives for recognition of the economic and social role played by the industry in enabling work, adaptation, security and prosperity in our societies. Its members in Europe provide access to the labour market and meaningful work to more than 11.6 million people around Europe and serve around 1.5 million organisations on a yearly basis.

Contact:

Denis Pennel
Managing Director
+32 2 421 15 85
+32 475 86 75 10
denis.pennel@wecglobal.org

[1] See Smart Regulation Index from World Employment Confederation