The Seminar on “Post COVID-19 social Europe. Productive activity and the relationship between employers’ and workers’ organisations. Security and social rights” was held on September 17, 18 and 19, 2021 in Malaga, organised by CEAT (Spanish Centre for Workers' Affairs), with the support of EZA and the European Union. 45 representatives of workers' organisations, of whom 31 by videoconference, participated in the seminar.
OPENING SESSION OF THE SEMINAR
Once most of the participants had joined, the opening session began in which they intervened:
the president of CEAT, Mr. DAVID CERVERA OLIVARES, who welcomed and greeted the attendees present and those connected by videoconference. He exposed the economic lines of the COVID 19 pandemic and the loss of privacy and individual freedoms in employment. He excused the absence of Deputy D. TEODORO GARCIA EGEA.
He then presented the videoconference of the MEP, D. JUAN IGNACIO ZOIDO, who would have liked to be present at this seminar, but has not been able to travel due to mobility restrictions. In his presentation, he stated how things are seen from the EU and the radical change produced in our model of society with economic, political, cultural and social transformations post Covid 19. Regarding the management of the Pandemic in Spain, he understands that he Government has given the wrong messages and has led Spain to a situation of institutional fragility and labour disaster.
Lastly, Mr. PIERGORGIO SCIAQUA, Co-president of EZA, thanked CEAT for the invitation to open the Seminar. The pandemic has transformed our society and has changed our lives with the implementation of digitisation processes and the knowledge economy. He also spoke of the health problems caused by the pandemic due to the lack of health personnel. Finally, he spoke of the energy dependence on light, which affects all of Europe, due to an acceleration towards the passage of the energy transition and due to the dependence of European countries on oil and that will affect consumption and the economy. He ended by talking about the democratic crisis in Europe, which has caused a rejection of politics and pessimism about institutions
FRAMEWORK PRESENTATION
As Mr. JOSÉ LUIS FERNANDEZ SANTILLANA, Director of the USO Studies Office, was unable to attend Mr. ANTONIO LÓPEZ-ISTURIZ, MEP, gave the presentation: ”THE FUNDAMENTAL ROLE OF EUROPEAN INSTITUTIONS IN THE COVID 19 CRISIS. SUPPORT MEASURES FOR THE ECONOMY, COMPANIES AND EMPLOYMENT”
He spoke about the role that the European institutions have played in managing the Covid 19 crisis. The measures adopted have been aimed at mitigating emergencies that affect public health, such as medical supplies and protective equipment. Although the economy, companies and employment have been supported, Europe has to be reindustrialised and consumption reorganised. Regarding the role of trade unionism, he stated that it should serve as an instrument to resolve and provide solutions to workers in relation to their work. The old trade unionism was based on the strength of collectivism and digital unionism has to adapt to the individualism of work, but everything old does not have to be renounced, since some jobs have to be robotised and others not.
OTHER PRESENTATION TO HIGHLIGHT
The presentation of D. RICARDO PALOMO ZURDO Dean of the Faculty of Economic Sciences of CEU San Pablo stands out for his technological optimism in the face of new ways of working for the reorganization of the economy, and for innovation and retention of talent.
On the business side, the interventions of: Mr. JOSÉ LUIS PEREA BLANQUER, from the Organisation of Self-Employed Workers (ATA) stand out. He referred to the role that the Self-Employed have developed during the pandemic through productive activity. He was very critical of the Minimum Wage and the employment situation.
D. SALVADOR MARÍN HERNÁNDEZ of the Federation of Accountants and Auditors of SME’s. He spoke of Small and Medium Enterprises and the reliance on “Just in Time” production processes.
Mr. JAVIER VILLA CLEMENTE, Deputy Director of Patient Relations and Care at the Virgen Macarena Hospital in Seville. He highlighted the investment effort that has been made during the Pandemic in the Community of Andalusia. He also spoke about the risks and safety at work in relation to vaccination.
ROUND TABLE
“Social Dialogue between European social agents in the exceptional economic and social scenario of the COVID.19 pandemic”
All participants participated by videoconference, Moderation Ms. MARTA JEDRYCH from Fundacja Nowy Staw, Poland
Mr. FERNANDO MOURA of FIDESTRA, Portugal. He began his intervention by saying that the pandemic crisis arises in all sectors unexpectedly and affects all sectors and social classes. It is the greatest crisis that has affected us in peacetime and the problems that have yet to arise are hidden. I understand that the Covid 19 crisis has a positive note and that is when it will improve public policies to mitigate many problems that have been dragging health or education down. Portugal, like the EU countries, is taking steps to improve the European social dialogue 2019-2021, promoting technology in the world of work, to support workers and improve productivity. He spoke of alternative work at home, stating that workers do not have adequate spaces and unions must demand adequate spaces to carry out their work.
On behalf of Spain Mr. BENITO CARDEÑA NOREÑA, from the Rey Juan Carlos University,spoke about the situation in Spain regarding social dialogue and its interlocutors. The Government and the unions that define themselves as the most representative deal with labour problems with exclusive dogmatism, leaving employers and employers out of the negotiation. This has been done with the imposition of the minimum wage. He gave data on: Spanish public finances, which reflect rampant indebtedness, on vocational training and contracts. He expressed its reduction or suppression, since they do not benefit the worker in the case of pensions
Mr. MATEUSZ SZYMANSKI from NSZZ Solidarnosc, Poland, discussed the European Social Dialogue and the mechanisms used to deal with the COVI 19 crisis. Social dialogue has always been needed, when there is a crisis, in the economy, and the world of work. The crisis caused by Covid 19 is unprecedented and has affected the pillars of the economy: Demand and supply. The social partners have demanded from the EU tax exemptions, flexibility in employment, attention to health and safety at work and mechanisms to support emergency employment, SURE. The European social partners during Covid 19 worked on the implementation of the 2019-2021 social dialogue action plan, whose priorities were digitisation, so that the social partners and public authorities promote the integrations of digital technology and the world of work to support workers and improving productivity. The negotiations on the next action plan of the European Social Dialogue will be: Teleworking and restructuring and response to structural changes in the economy and the labour market. Negotiations are underway, but it is difficult to predict what their future and possible agreement will be.
Mr. BJÖRN VAN HEUSDEN, from WOW, The Netherlands. He began his intervention on the real effects of Social Dialogue, making a brief intervention on alternative work, the future of the organisation, leadership, the commitment of the Entrepreneurs. Regarding the alternative contract, he said it has become the main trend during the pandemic and is no longer considered as a complementary system. Future of the organisation. The organisation is highly hierarchical, although much has been invested in programs to improve worker life to ensure that employees remain fit for the job. The leadership. New requirements and new technical skills are required of workers who work at home. Commitment. It is in question and under pressure, and in turn it is difficult for employees to remain committed to hierarchical organizations and a challenge for union organizations. The path that has been followed to address these challenges: one, that of Artificial Intelligence (AI); two, changes in organisations, because alternative and remote work is going to increase. There are alternatives to implement the 4-day work week with the slogan “Free your future with a 4-day work week”, in a way that ensures a balance between work life and private life. It is a proposal that seems to be more efficient since people are more productive and more satisfied. He talked about the new alternative jobs. He proposed for his study the initiative of the Dutch Christian Trade Union Federation (CNV) and the FNV, that the working day, experimentally, had begun in the Netherlands, outside of 4 days and 30 or 32 hours per week. In the end, he stated that both business and worker organisations will face a challenge with benefits and disadvantages of working from one form to another.
CLOSING STATEMENTS
Closing ceremony was closed by Mr. JAVIER MORILLAS, who made a synthesis-conclusions of the interventions and recommendations of the speakers and the Honorary President of CEAT Mr. JESUS CASADO, thanking everyone for their participation and their interventions that will be collected by CEAT.
Conclusions
The COVID-19 pandemic is manifesting itself as a singular, exceptional and summing up event. Although it is not the first nor will it be the last pandemic, COVID-19 is a unique health, political and economic phenomenon transmitted live through the media and social networks and highlighting the vulnerability of the human condition between fear and uncertainty.
The pandemic is a disruptive social phenomenon that impacts beyond the health field to transform the economy, labour relations, the way we communicate, government institutions, moral worldviews, religious beliefs and practices, the meaning of our leisure, etc. The controversial political measures, under the discussed state of alarm, have led to extensive limitations on freedom. To control the pandemic we have accepted, and to a certain extent demanded, a state of democratic exception in many areas of our lives.
The European institutions have played a fundamental role in managing this systemic shock caused by COVID-19. A series of emergency measures have been adopted that affect not only public health (vaccination strategy, supply of medical supplies, protective equipment, etc.), but also in support of the economy, businesses and employment.
The health crisis caused by COVID-19 has forced a large part of society to adapt quickly and unexpectedly to carry out their work remotely outside the company's usual establishments and centres. Teleworking has come to many jobs to stay and this is reported and studies. Teleworking in times of COVID-19 has left many mixed ideas, impressions and opinions about remote employment, but the truth is that for many companies it has given rise to hybrid environments with new ways of working to offer flexibility and conciliation to their employees.