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16
Nov

Madrid: The IPCM collaborates in the international seminar “The labour market emerging from the economic and social crisis and its impact on the creation of a fairer society

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The International Platform for Cooperation and Migration took part in the international seminar "The labour market emerging from the economic and social crisis and its impact on the creation of a fairer society" held in Madrid from 11 to 13 November. 2016.

The seminar was organised by the Humanism and Democracy Foundation - H+D, founder member of the IPCM, with funding from the European Union and the European Centre for Workers' Affairs (EZA).

The seminar provided an analysis of employment policies in different member states of the European Union, within the framework of the Europe 2020 Strategy, as well as looking at the role of the Social Dialogue in building a better future for all.

During the opening, which was attended by Rafael Rodríguez-Ponga, President of H+D and the IPCM; Piergiorgio Sciacqua, Co-President of the European Centre for Workers' Affairs - EZA; and Pablo Gómez-Tavira, Director of Social Services and Social Integration for the Community of Madrid region; a commitment was made to assist in continuing to build Europe together, between all.

eza4bisJosé Ignacio Echániz, Deputy and Spokesman for the Employment and Social Security Committee, gave the paper on employment policies and social perspectives in Spain, where he highlighted the need to work to achieve employable workers, stimulating companies to create jobs and, in this way, be able to conserve our present welfare system.

Eugenio Nasarre, President of the Spanish European Movement, introduced Verónica Lope Fontaigné, MEP and member of the European Parliament's Employment and Social Affairs Committee, who gave the presentation, Development of the labour market and the social situation in Europe. During her speech she highlighted the EU's commitment to social rights going hand in hand with economic policies.

Saturday began with the theme Equal job opportunities for men and women. Maribel Alañón, Director of H+D, then gave the floor to Carmen Quintanilla, Parliamentarian of the Council of Europe's Assembly and President of AFAMMER, who analysed the job situation of women in Spain, urging progress in equal job opportunities, sharing time-off for the care of children, and equality-based planning that promotes employment, reconciliation between work and home life and the fight against gender violence.

Nereyda Blanco, Coordinator of H+D Immigration projects, introduced the paper on the role of trade unions in integration in the job market for people at risk of social exclusion. Belén Navarro, Secretary of Equality and Social Action for USO Madrid (Madrid Workers' Union), presented the moves undertaken to improve conditions in domestic work.

eza8Following this came a round table entitled, Employment policies and labour market integration in Europe, moderated by Felipe Bragado, board member of H+D. Following this format, speakers were: María Reina Martín, General Secretary of the Federation of Christian Democratic Workers - FTDC - Portugal; Aldo Aledda, Vice-President of the Italian National Union of Immigrants' and Emigrants' Associations - UNAIE - Italy; Daniel Markovic, Member of the Board of Nezávislé Krest'anské Odbory Slovenska - NKOS Institute - Slovakia; Panagiotis Gkolfis, Dimokratiki Anexartiti Kinisi Ergazomenon - DAKE - Greece; and Giancamillo Palmerini, from the Movimento Cristiano Lavoratori - MCL - Italy. Several conclusions could be drawn from this panel, among many others: a fairer society must be achieved; youth unemployment is a huge problem; the most highly skilled workers emigrate; political instability creates uncertainty that alienates foreign investors, and it is necessary to work on projects which promote job creation and social and job market integration.

The next roundtable, entitled Projects to stimulate Job Creation and social and job market integration. was moderated by Juan Carlos Barcia from the CEPI, Alcobendas - San Sebastián de los Reyes (run by H+D) along with the participation of Lucía Maquieira, Coordinator of H+D projects in Galicia - Spain; Luís García, Director of the Ronsel Foundation. Galicia - Spain; and Marco Bruno, National Councillor of the Movimento Cristiano Lavoratori - MCL - Italy.

eza11From the Italian experience of the crisis, what was demanded was a new humanism in employment, where it is the economy that serves man and not the other way around. In the Spanish case, H+D Galicia sketched out the work of job integration with migrants and the population at risk of social exclusion. On entrepreneurship, the Ronsel Foundation explained how people are helped to create their own business project.

The seminar was brought formally to an end by Antonio Matos, Vice-President of EZA, Josep Calvó, Vice-President of EZA, and Rafael Rodríguez-Ponga, President of H+D and IPCM, who thanked the different organisations for their participation, reminding all that it is together that we share and build Europe.