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“High quality vocational education and training is central to a successful manufacturing industry in Europe. In order to realise its full potential, public authorities and education and training systems must make significant progress towards increasing permeability”, CEEMET and EMF emphasize in their common statement on the importance of permeability between vocational education and training and higher education.

CEEMET is pleased that the European Commission intends to propose a further postponement of the deadline for transposition of Directive 2004/40/EC on protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to electromagnetic fields at work.

The European Commission together with the Polish Presidency organised a conference in Warsaw on 24-25 November to celebrate the 20th anniversary of European social dialogue. Many of the presentations made on the conferences 9 panels took a retrospective look at the achievements achieved by the European partners, highlighting also difficulties of the concept, stemming from the fact that social dialogue is non-existent in several countries, in particular from the EU-12.

“Flexible forms of employment are vital for the European metal, engineering and technology-based industries, MET, sector to successfully carry on its business and survive the changing market circumstances”, said CEEMET President Martin Kannegiesser speaking at a stakeholder conference on Flexicurity today in Brussels.

Confederation of Danish Industry, DI, has published a Global Benchmark Report 2011 containing information from the OECD member countries. This report is the seventh in a series of reports giving DI’s annual assessment of developments in the long term business environment and the performance of individual OECD member countries.

CEEMET was invited to talk at a hearing organised by the Employment and Social Affairs Committee of the European Parliament on 5 October. Terry Woolmer (EEF) presented CEEMET’s position at the hearing.

CEEMET welcomes the Commission’s new higher education reform strategy and wants to stress that the capability of higher education to better address the changing skills, knowledge and competence requirements is fundamental in preparing students for the future working life. CEEMET calls for improved cooperation between higher education institutions and industry to allow continuous adaptation to changing requirements. Furthermore, vocational training should be part of higher education. In most Member States, it is still not easy to move from vocational education to higher education but the choice of one path should not exclude the other.

In its recent letter to the Polish Presidency, CEEMET highlighted the concern that the proposed directive may unintentionally prohibit processes that do not cause adverse physical effects. Many processes used by the manufacturing industry produce significant electromagnetic fields. A new proposal adopted by the Commission in June 2011 was introduced with the aim to eventually replace the unimplemented directive of 2004.

“Manufacturers’ already operate an innovative blend of flexible working solutions such as changes in hours worked, overtime or varying shifts, adjustments to the numbers and types of employees; varying workforce numbers or bringing in staff on a short-term basis and changes related to production practices, with the support of their workforces”, comments Tim Thomas, Head of Employment Policy at the Manufacturers’ organisation, EEF .

European Commission Vice-President Antonio Tajani, responsible for Enterprise & Industry, Commissioner Lázsló Andor (Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion) and Commissioner Michel Barnier (Internal Market and Services) will call on business and other stakeholders to support a new political initiative for the promotion of corporate social responsibility (CSR).