CIA warns of EU 'flexi-curity' impact on chems

20 April 2006 16:04  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (ICIS news)--The UK’s Chemical Industries Association (CIA) on Thursday attacked European Union (EU) employment proposals such as 'flexi-curity' (employment flexibility and social security) which it said did not help the globally active chemical industry.

The EU needed to provide genuine employment leadership and support for the sector in areas such as job flexibility and social security support as well as on working time, it said.

Simon Marsh, the CIA’s director of employment relations, appealed to the EU to pay greater attention to the impact of employment legislation on chemical businesses which need to compete with companies based outside Europe.

“It is wrong to assume that when Europe legislates it is a level playing field because it affects one market. We trade and compete globally,” Marsh said. He was holding a series of briefings in Brussels with EU, trades union and UK officials .

Marsh referred specifically to the proposals of the Austrian Presidency related to 'flexi-curity' and the continuing debate on working time.

The employment debate in the EU currently is considering how member states’ social security systems cope within a global business environment.

Experts have praised systems in the Nordic countries and particularly in Denmark that create jobs and maintain a high standard of social security for the unemployed. These contrast markedly with the Anglo Saxon model which some see as bad at preventing poverty.

 “I believe the EU has developed sensible regulation in a variety of employment areas including equality and involvement but I am concerned that much of which is developed is not measured against the impact globally or on the employment relationship within Europe,” Marsh said.

By: Nigel Davis
+44 20 8652 3214

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