The ETUC has called on the Commission to expand the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund and make it into a pre-emptive tool to save jobs, as part of its initiatives set to be announced tomorrow.
The resources allocated to the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund are not sufficient to meet the threat of mass layoffs faced by working communities across Europe. Funding must be massively scaled up to meet the challenges the EU is facing in the turbulent geopolitical context.
Currently, the Globalisation Adjustment Fund provides vital support to workers in companies where layoffs have been announced. The ETUC is calling for support to also be made available to save jobs, on the basis of "social conditionalities", in companies that have just transition plans agreed with their workforce to anticipate and manage change.
The ETUC will also be looking for investments for adequate and affordable housing and quality jobs to be increased through the cohesion policy mid-term review, also set to be unveiled tomorrow. It is vital that resources for social objectives are increased, and not redirected toward security and other objectives.
Esther Lynch, ETUC General Secretary, said:
“EU action must be tailored so that support kicks in before jobs are lost.
“Supporting collectively agreed just transition plans would turn the Globalisation Adjustment Fund into a forward-looking tool that can also save jobs.
“By identifying joint needs from the workplace up and agreeing to a just transition action plan, management and unions can work together to steer companies out of trouble and protect livelihoods.”
picture by industriAll Europe
