Public Procurement
ILO Committee considers labour clause in public contracts: compatible with EU procurement directives
(18 April 2008) A committee of the International Labour Organisation explored the use of ILO Convention 94 on Labour Clauses in Public Contracts. It publishes a detailed survey. The findings confirm the long campaign of EPSU and members of the European parliament that this convention should be referred to and used in EU procurement directives. The survey says that the EU Directives are compatible with the Convention. The committee argues further: "In the light of the greater impact of (...)
’EVIDENCE’ FOR USING PFI BUILT ON SAND
A new report released by UNISON demonstrates Private Finance Initiative (PFI) schemes do not out-perform public sector projects. "A Policy Built on Sand" nails the claim that the extra costs of PFI are offset by increased efficiency and it knocks out another of the Government’s arguments for its continued use to build hospitals, schools and other major public sector projects. Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON and EPSU vice-President said:
"UNISON has always argued that PFI is a (...)
"UNISON has always argued that PFI is a (...)
Swedish government pushes collective agreements in public contracts
The Swedish government has proposed to make it illegal to give public contracts to companies that have not signed collective agreements. Companies that do not respect this will not be selected for these public contracts. This is a possibility provide for in the European Public procurement directives but seldom used. The initiative follows the blockage of a Latvian contruction company that was building a school but refused to sign a Swedish collective agreement arguing it already had a (...)
Launch of European campaign on implementation of new EU public procurement Directives
EPSU has joined forces with environmental, social and fair trade NGOs, social enterprises, city networks to make sure that EU public procurement directives adopted last year are transposed into national law in a way that social, ethical and environmental considerations can be included in public procurement processes. Governments and public authorities do have scope to promote sustainable development through public procurement - but only if the chose to do so.
EPSU with the other (...)
EPSU with the other (...)
Social conditions in procurement - Dutch examples
The City of Amsterdam has developed a guide to assist its procurement officers when buying clothes. The aim is to ensure that the clothes bought are in accordance with Clean Clothes standards, and thus the production and related processes respect appropriate environmental and social standards.
An evaluation of the procurement policies regarding clothes of the City of (...)
An evaluation of the procurement policies regarding clothes of the City of (...)
short history
Many public authorities have contracts with private sector contractors for supplies, works and services. The European Union has several directives dating back to the 1970s, which apply to these contracts. EPSU has followed the European Union’s procurement policies since 1990, issued several opinions and policy papers 127, and has established a dedicated Task Force to this end (for more information about this Task Force, please contact EPSU Secretariat).
EPSU, our sister Federation of (...)
EPSU, our sister Federation of (...)
EPSU and ETUC positions on Public Procurement
EPSU Positions
Emergency Resolution of the 6th EPSU General Assembly on Public Procurement, Concessions and Social Standards, April 2000 (English version attached)
Procurement, bribery and social standards, a position paper written by Dave Hall, director of PSIRU, University of Greenwich and EPSU staff Jan Willem Goudriaan, February 2000
EPSU position on Commission Interpretative Communication on Concessions under Community Law on Public Contracts XV/B 24 February 1999 - a question of (...)
Emergency Resolution of the 6th EPSU General Assembly on Public Procurement, Concessions and Social Standards, April 2000 (English version attached)
Procurement, bribery and social standards, a position paper written by Dave Hall, director of PSIRU, University of Greenwich and EPSU staff Jan Willem Goudriaan, February 2000
EPSU position on Commission Interpretative Communication on Concessions under Community Law on Public Contracts XV/B 24 February 1999 - a question of (...)
Social and ethical labels
The Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) in the UK The Ethical Trading Initiative is an alliance of companies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and trade union organisations committed to working together to identify and promote ethical trade - good practice in the implementation of a code of conduct for good labour standards (labor standards), including the monitoring and independent verification of the observance of ethics code provisions, as standards for ethical sourcing. ETI member (...)
PSI, ICFTU and SOLIDAR positions on WTO procurement policies
Public Services International (PSI) has published a recent paper on government procurement and WTO agreements. See discussion paper (29/08/02) attached.
The ICFTU developed a position on a New Strategy for Trade and Development, which addresses a trade union agenda for the WTO in Seattle, 30 November-3 December 1999. On procurement it says:
"In this area, which builds on the plurilateral (voluntary) Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) signed in 1996, the ICFTU believes that any effort (...)
The ICFTU developed a position on a New Strategy for Trade and Development, which addresses a trade union agenda for the WTO in Seattle, 30 November-3 December 1999. On procurement it says:
"In this area, which builds on the plurilateral (voluntary) Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) signed in 1996, the ICFTU believes that any effort (...)
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