European Priorities – Jobs, Jobs and More Jobs!

By David Geary, Policy Advisor

Ahead of next month’s European elections we sent out a policy briefing to the UK’s 59 MEPs seeking re-election explaining the important role recruiters play in supporting UK businesses.

The EU must do more to create jobs and ensure the right conditions exist for businesses to expand and grow their workforce. Private sector businesses are creating the roles to get Europe back to work and the EU should be doing all it can to make this happen.

The REC identified four key areas which we feel must be prioritised by the incoming European Parliament:

1. The EU must remove barriers to service sector growth by extending the scope of the EU Services Directive.
There are still far too many regional and national differences that prevent business growth in Europe. For instance, Italy requires agencies to establish offices in all four regions and many other countries impose a nationality or residency requirement. It is therefore hardly surprising that a recent Eurobarometer survey found that only 8% of SMEs engage in cross-border activities. We are calling for reform of the EU Services Directive and its expansion to include recruitment agencies as an important first step.

2. Champion effective labour market strategies and review restrictions on agency work in line with the aims of the EU Agency Workers Directive.
When proposing the Agency Workers Directive (AWD), the European Commission suggested that it would not only provide equal treatment for temporary staff but that it would also encourage national governments to review the restrictions imposed on temporary workers. However these restrictions continue to blight the continent and prevent employers from quickly responding to fluctuating demand by creating jobs. We want the next European Parliament to fully implement Clause 4 and to ensure each nation implements AWD as the UK has.

3. Promote an open and dynamic European labour market by expanding the EURES scheme and through effective enforcement of the EU Posting of Workers Directive.
Worker mobility, a cornerstone of EU integration, is threatened when debated without reliable data. The Financial Times reported official figures earlier this year which stated that, counterbalancing the 2.3 million Europeans living in the UK, are the 2.2 million British citizens living across the EU. Capitalising on opportunities to work with the EURES portal, which is soon to be opened to recruitment agencies, and seeking effective enforcement of the Posting of Workers Directive will support a thriving labour market.

4. Address youth unemployment and labour market inclusion by sharing best practice and raising awareness of EU initiatives. 
Tackling high levels of youth unemployment across the EU must remain a key priority, so we believe the EU should prioritise careers guidance and vocational training. Equally, ensuring the right conditions for businesses to thrive is the surest way of providing a pathway to work.

 Click here to read the briefing we sent to MEPs.