Guidelines for the employment policies in 2009

The Council agreed to a general approach on a decision maintaining the current Guidelines for the Employment Policies of the Member States unchanged in 2009 and to transmit the document to the Spring European Council. Following receipt of the opinions of the European Parliament and of the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, the

Employment and Social Affairs Council is expected to reach political agreement on the Employment Guidelines at its June 2009 session.

To recall, in 2008, the Council decided that the Integrated Guidelines for 2008-2010 should be valid for three years, and that their updating in the intermediate years should remain strictly limited. The Guidelines for the Employment Policies of the Member State form together with the broad Guidelines for the economic policies the Integrated Guidelines for growth and jobs.

The Titles of the Employment Guidelines are the following:

(17) Implement employment policies aiming at achieving full employment, improving quality and productivity at work, and strengthening social and territorial cohesion.

(18) Promote a life-cycle approach to work.

(19) Ensure inclusive labour markets, enhance work attractiveness, and make work pay for job-seekers, including disadvantaged people, and the inactive.

(20) Improve matching of labour market needs.

(21) Promote flexibility combined with employment security and reduce labour market segmentation, having due regard to the role of the social partners.

(22) Ensure employment-friendly labour cost developments and wage-setting mechanisms.

(23) Expand and improve investment in human capital.

(24) Adapt education and training systems in response to new competence requirements.