Press Release

COMECE publishes reflection on the Future of Work

In view of the 2019 European elections and on the occasion of the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) centenary initiative on the future of work, the COMECE Social Affairs Commission publishes the reflection paper “Shaping the future of work”. The document encourages the EU to shape the digital and ecological transformations of the world of work aiming to the common good.

(Credit: Web)

The reflection highlights the role of work as an integral part of human identity and instrument to care for Creation. While it identifies the challenges in the current shift, it invites the EU and its Member States to take the ecological and digital transition as an opportunity and to shape both trends towards a common European vision of a decent, sustainable and participative world of work for all.

Towards this aim, the document suggests 17 policy recommendations that range from the promotion of international labour standards and the social economy to special provisions on tax justice and workers in transition.

The COMECE document is the result of a one-year long process of consultation and dialogue started in November 2017. This process has been carried out together with representatives of the European institutions and Catholic-inspired organisations such as the European Christian Workers’ Movement (ECWM), the International Christian Union of Business Executives (UNIAPAC) and representatives of young Christian workers movements in the EU.

Mgr. Antoine Hérouard, president of the COMECE Social Affairs Commission, will officially present the reflection at the forthcoming conference “Shaping the future of work – a faith-based contribution to the ILO centenary initiative” (registration is now closed) to be held in Brussels on 27 November 2018 together with 200 representatives of the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths as well as distinguished EU and ILO officials.

The conference is co-organised by COMECE, faith-based partners, ILO and the European Economic Social Committee (EESC). It will include the participation of Mgr. Jean-Claude Hollerich SJ, President of COMECE, Mairead McGuinness, First Vice-President of the European Parliament, Heinz Koller, ILO Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia and MEPs Claude Rolin (EPP) and Patrizia Toia (S&D).