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The European twin transition (digital and green) and the role of the social dialogue on safeguarding the jobs

From 7 to 10 September 2022 took place in Bucharest / Romania a seminar about “The European twin transition (digital and green) and the role of the social dialogue on safeguarding the jobs”, organised by IFES (Institutul de Formare Economică şi Socială), in cooperation with EZA and funded by the European Union.

The implementation of the Twin Transition (Digital & Green) principles will generate a significant impact on society in the member states of the European Union. The main aim of this EU project is to reduce pollution, improve the quality of life, include the deepest technological progress in all sectors of activity. It is very important to observe and analyse what impact these transformations will have on the professional life of employees. Most sectors of activity will change. Both in the workplace and in terms (industrial relations, public services, commerce, etc). The essential question is: are we prepared to have an honest and effective social dialogue through which every employee, every job is evaluated and supported so that this transition to a higher level of quality of life does not mean professional trauma, unemployment, discrimination (older people are not so good in the digital field).

How are the employees and the organizations that represent them involved in this transformation process? How prepared are the public administrations and employers to listen to the opinion of the unions and to effectively associate them with the decision-making process that will follow. The answers to these questions are not easy.

The employees must be aware as well as possible about the concept of Twin Transition. Toward this aim the speaker during the seminar bring to the participants presentations of the essential priorities of the European Union in the coming years: Green Deal and Digital Transition. Participants discussed about the role of the social partners at European, national and grassroot level.

After the pandemic period, the seminar took the advantage of the presence of the representatives of trade unions, academics, representatives of the civil society, members of the Romanian government.

The seminar had 35 representatives of workers’ organisations as participants, 5 staff and 5 guests (a total of 45 attenders). The participants were from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Spain, Ukraine and Romania.

The topics considered during the seminar were:

European double transition (digital and green)

  • The significance of the double transition (green and digital) and the impact of transformations on society and the economy, especially on jobs.
  • Recovery and resilience plans as a support tool for the double transition. Case study: Romania

The impact of the double transition on society

  • Double transition and the effect on individuals. An economic and social perspective.
  • Sustainable economic development in the context of the double transition (green and digital)
  • The transformations entailed by the double transition and the role of social dialogue

Labor market. The role of social actors. How we save jobs.

  • Education unions for a sustainable future
  • How are the employees and the organizations that represent them involved in the transformation processes?

 

Another very interesting moment of the seminar was the panel, moderated by Mr. Veselin Mitov (CL Podkrepa, BG) dealing with an important topic: Double transition. European experiences. Participants at the seminar had the opportunity to listen presentation made by representatives from Portugal (FIDESTRA, CFTL), Lithuania (LDF), Germany (CSP-AZK), Bulgaria (CL Podkrepa), Serbia (Bofos), Poland (NSZZ “Solidarnosc”), Spain (CEAT).

How shall we and our organisations act in the near future in regard the double transition? was the ending moment of the seminar. The participants were invited to figure their perspective. Some ideas which came up:

  • Some concepts shall be better explained or clarified. The confusions in terms and actions shall be avoided further.
  • Education must have an important role in the double transition. Both to make aware the workers on the challenges they have to face on, but also in supporting the workers to adapt to the new working conditions.
  • The trade unions are to be active in the society and explain to the members the mean of the concepts;
  • The EU and the states must make available the resources needed for the supporting activities: new jobs, reconversion, adapting the skills.

The participants remarked that this topic should be chosen for future EZA educational program. They also claim for a close cooperation and for sharing of good or bad examples from different countries.

As key speakers of the seminar we mention Mr. Sebastian-Ioan BURDUJA (Minister of Research, Innovation and Digitalization in the Government of Romania), Mr. TODOR Arpad (Associate professor, National School of Political Studies and Administrative Bucharest), Mr. Stefan GUGA (Director, Syndex Romania), Mr. Vassil KIROV (Associate Professor at Bulgarian Academy of Sciences), Mr. Marian APOSTOL (President, Caras-Severin Branch of CNS Cartel-Alfa Romania), Ms Sara PROSDOCIMI (Expert, Fondazione ADAPT Italy), Alexandra CORNEA (Director at FSLI Romania International Relations and Programs Department, Vice-President, Committee for Equality of European trade union committee for education).