EU social partners for Central Government Administrations reach landmark Agreement on information and consultation rights of public employees in Europe
(Press Release) On 21 December 2015, at a meeting hosted by the European Commission with the participation of French Minister for Devolution and Civil Service Ms Lebranchu, the Social Dialogue Committee for Central Government Administrations adopted an agreement on information and consultation rights of civil servants and employees of central government administrations in Europe.
The Agreement sets out a general framework of common minimum requirements for information and consultation rights of public employees, through their trade union representatives, in central government administrations.
Information and consultation rights cover important issues such as restructuring, work/life balance, working time and health and safety. Other topics are to be covered either by information or consultation.
A “non-regression clause" ensures that more favorable national legislation in this field will continue to apply.
The Agreement contributes to achieving the objective of the European President Jean-Claude Juncker who has pledged to" relaunch the European social dialogue" during his mandate.
TUNED spokesperson Britta Lejon, President of ST, Sweden, said “this agreement means that millions of government employees and civil servants will at long last benefit from EU minimum standards on the fundamental right to information and consultation on matters of prime concern to them. We trust the European Commission will transpose the agreement into a directive as quickly as possible and in full respect of the autonomy of social partners.”
For her part, Ms Lebranchu welcomed the successful negotiation within the Committee to reach an agreement and pointed out that “an effective social dialogue is vital for economic growth, quality labour relations, quality and efficiency of work and of public services”.
The social partners, EUPAE for the employers, and TUNED for the trade unions, have negotiated this agreement throughout the year 2015 within the Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee chaired by EUPAE- France.
Notes to editors
About the EU Social Dialogue Committee for Central Government Administrations
The European Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for Central Government Administrations (SDC CGA), which brings together trade union (TUNED) and employer (EUPAE) representatives from this sector, was founded in 2010 with the objectives of improving the functioning of administrations and standards on working conditions and promoting social dialogue at national and European levels.
EUPAE (European Public Administration Employers) consists, as of today, of 11 Member States (Belgium, France, Spain, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Romania, Czech Republic, UK and Slovakia) and 5 observer countries (Germany, Austria, Hungary, Malta, Portugal).
TUNED (Trade Unions' National and European Administration Delegation) brings together the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) and the European Confederation of Independent Trade Unions (CESI), which represent government employees in 27 of the 28 EU Member States.
Contacts:
EUPAE France: Nacer-Eddine Djider, Paris, [email protected], +33 155074204
TUNED contact person: Nadja Salson, Brussels, [email protected], +32 2 2501088
- For the agreement (EN/CZ/FR/IT/NL/PL/PT/SV/DE)
- The joint press release:
- Log in to post comments
