25 March 2010

On 25 March 2010, ETUC, BUSINESSEUROPE, UEAPME and CEEP presented their
European agreement on inclusive labour markets at the Tripartite Social Summit in
Brussels.

With the EU unemployment rate currently at 9.5%, urgent and determined action is
needed. Europe cannot afford such a waste of talent. Europe must make full use of its
labour force potential, improve job quality and increase employment rates in the face of
demographic ageing.

Labour market inclusion is a key concern for European social partners and is
essential to foster economic development and social cohesion. With this agreement,
they commit to take concrete actions to help disadvantaged people to enter, remain
and develop in the labour market. Examples of areas in which measures can be taken
include vocational training, apprenticeships, recruitment, transparency and information
regarding competences, available jobs and training programmes.

National social partners have three years to implement the agreement and will report
on their activities annually. A final implementation report will be drawn up on this basis
in 2014.

Implementation of this framework agreement will contribute to the Commission’s
objective of achieving inclusive growth as part of a renewed Europe 2020 strategy.

Framework agreement on Inclusive Labour Markets

For more information please contact:

Maria Fernanda Fau, BUSINESSEUROPE Tel.:+32(0)2 237 65 62 www.businesseurope.eu

Francesco Longu, UEAPME Tel.:+32(0)2 230 75 99 www.ueapme.com

Gin Ngan, CEEP Tel.:+32(0)2 229 21 58 www.ceep.eu

Patricia Grillo, ETUC Tel.: +32(0)2 224 04 30 www.etuc.org