European churches and church related organisations respond to EU’s Green Paper on'Modernising labour law to meet the challenges of the 21st century'

 European churches and church-related organisations working in the area of employment and migration are concerned about the ongoing high level of unemployment in the European Union. These concerns also include the increasing segmentation of the labour market, with more and more precarious employment situations and the growing marginalisation of specific groups such as long term unemployed, less skilled people, people with disabilities, single parent families, ethnic minorities and people with a migration background.

In a contribution to the consultation of the European Commission on “Modernising labour law”, the churches and church-related organisations explain: “The current situation provides a fundamental challenge to the functioning of the social systems and is a fertile ground for extremism and intolerance in society. We therefore welcome the European Commission’s initiative to open the discussion on the modernisation of labour law and a mutual supportive combination of security and flexibility in European societies with the intention to provide full employment, labour productivity and social cohesion”.

For the churches and church-related organisations, work is not just a productive factor but a central element of human personality and participation in society. Thus it must always be organised and carried out with full respect for human dignity and must serve the common good. A high level of employment and social security are key elements of the European Social model. Far reaching changes in labour laws as they are considered in the Green Paper will have relevant impacts on social security, the situation of families, demography and mobility in European societies.

Download the full statement of the Church and Society Commission of the Conference of European Churches (CEC), the Churches’ Commission of Migrants (CCME) and of the European Contact Group (ECG).

The Church and Society Commission is one of the commissions of the Conference of European Churches (CEC). The Church and Society Commission links CEC’s some 125 member churches from all over Europe and its associated organisations with the European Union’s institutions, the Council of Europe, the OSCE, NATO and the UN (on European matters). Its task is to help the churches study church and society questions from a theological social-ethical perspective, especially those with a European dimension, and to represent common positions of the member churches in their relations with political institutions working in Europe.

www.cec-kek.org

The Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe (CCME) is the ecumenical agency on migration and integration, asylum and refugees, and against racism and discrimination in Europe. Members are Anglican, Orthodox and Protestant Churches and Councils of Churches as well as church-related agencies in presently 16 European countries. CCME cooperates with the Conference of European Churches and the World Council of Churches.

www.ccme.be

The European Contact Group (ECG) is an ecumenical network concerned with employment issues. It has members in 26 European countries that are actively engaged in issues affecting working life. The main focus is the promotion of good work, the addressing of unemployment and precarious work, as well as with urban and rural communities and economic development.

www.ecgnet.cz