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Following the economic crisis, the European focus has been on economic growth. At the same time, unemployment has been rising to unacceptably high rates while the quality of employment has been degraded. Fixed term contracts, zero-hours contracts, involuntary part-time and flexible working patterns, attempts to replace real jobs with traineeships, as well as low and inadequate wages have become characteristic in the EU. This in turn is creating in-work poverty with jobs no longer guaranteeing a decent income. It is undermining a proper work-life balance and impacting on gender equality, social protection rights creating a liquid labour-market, where job security is minimised in order to have a workforce that is as flexible as possible.

On March 27, the members of Social Platform adopted their "Position Paper on Employment: How to make labour markets inclusive". Through this paper, civil Society Organisations are calling for an investment in the creation of, and equal access to, quality and sustainable employment. Employment and social inclusion must be addressed from a rights-based perspective, particularly as many people face discrimination when trying to access the labour market. Social NGOs and other civil society groups have an important role to play and can bring their own expertise and experience on specific issues.

Special attention should be paid to the social, health and care services  sectors. Social NGOs are strongly represented in these sectors and are reporting continuous cuts, despite the increasing relevance of these sectors in the 21th century demographic context and despite their great potential for job creation and growth. Therefore, a specific section of the position paper was dedicated to these sectors

Read Social Platform's recommendations on employment