Standards and rights related to job quality

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This impact area focuses on socio-economic conditions of workers and unemployed, i.e. the set of rights, norms and routines which characterise the general working environment, regulate the activity of workers, and support people looking for a job. More specifically the following aspects are to be considered. First, the working conditions that are normally negotiated and formalised in contractual relations (e.g. job security, mobility, safety, use of new technology, anti-discrimination provisions); second, wages and overall labour costs paid by firms for the use of workforce; third, social rights and support to the unemployed as reflected in constitutional or legal principles; fourth and finally, the participation of workers to decisions concerning the activity and functioning of firms and institutions. The productivity of workers and, more generally the degree to which they will carry out their duties and improve their performances, largely depend on incentives and constraints determined by institutional, contractual and organisational settings. For instance, low wage levels generally imply low motivation; availability of advanced technology at the work-place imply some learning by using subsidies and training for the unemployed support individual income and reduce the risk of skill deterioration.[1]

Job quality depends on a number of factors. The ten main ones were outlined in a EC Communication and in a Decision of the European Council on quality indicators (COM(2001) 313 final, 'Employment and social policies: a framework for investing in quality', COM(2003) 728 final, 'Indicators of Quality in Work'; Communication on 'Improving Quality in work'): . intrinsic job quality (including level of remuneration and fairness); . skills, life-long learning and career development ; . gender equality; . health and safety at work; . balance between flexibility and security; . inclusion and access to the labour market; . work organisation and work-life balance; . social dialogue and worker involvement; . diversity and non-discrimination; . overall work performance (including productivity).[1]

According to the Impact Assessment Guidelines of the European Commission, the following key questions are of particular importance when examining the impacts of policy initiatives on specific regions or sectors:

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 JRC: IA TOOLS. Supporting inpact assessment in the European Commission. [1]

This text is for information only and is not designed to intepret or replace any reference documents.