Today, the European Social Partners Framework Agreement on Digitalisation was signed by BusinessEurope, ETUC, CEEP and SMEunited to support the successful digital transformation of Europe’s economy and to manage its large implications for labour markets, the world of work and society at large.
The digital transformation of the economy is a multifaceted topic with large implications for labour markets, the world of work and society at large. It is dealt with in a variety of ways by EU member states, due to different social and economic situations, labour markets and industrial relations systems and existing initiatives, practices and collective agreements.
The social partners asked the European Commission to forward their agreement for decision by the Council, in accordance with the procedures enshrined in the Treaty, so as to make it binding in the EU member states. Yet before the Commission had taken any initiative whatsoever, ten governments announced that they would oppose any form of regulation in this area.
P. Kerckhofs, C. Welz, S. Contrepois, and S. Jefferys. Report, EF1644. European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound), Luxembourg, (December 2016)