At the Commission’s conference on Flexicurity, CEEMET President Martin
Kannegiesser discussed the industry’s experience when it comes to flexible
employment contracts. “The flexible forms of employment such as fixed-term
contracts, temporary agency work and part-time work is one tool in the toolbox
of our companies when they aim to respond to the changing market circumstances,
seizing new opportunities and meetings employee needs”, he said.
With changes such as rapid technological development, the intensified
globalisation of markets, lean manufacturing, as well as an increased focus on
work-life balance and attempts to increase the share of women in the workforce,
European labour markets and employment arrangements have also evolved. There
are many examples of companies actually developing tailor made working time
models to cope with the business reality, such as “working time accounts” and
short-time work, in an agreement with their employees.
A standard open-ended contract has been discussed at the EU level.
CEEMET does not believe that this would offer a solution but actually would
rather risk introducing unnecessary rigidities to the labour markets.
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