Post by Ibec

On 16 April, Maureen Walsh, Vice President of Ibec, gave a keynote address at an event co-hosted with Confederation of Swedish Enterprise and the CEOE on the Quality Jobs Act, expected to be published by the Commission later this year. In her remarks, Maureen emphasised that a quality job is an outcome of a healthy eco-system and competitiveness is a precondition for quality jobs. Speakers on the two panels in the event included MEPs, Commission officials, representatives from the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and industry representatives. Companies’ competitiveness is key to having quality jobs in Europe. Europe is facing a clear competitiveness challenge: excessive regulatory burden discourages investment, slows innovation and weighs on productivity. Europe does not need more social regulation but rather initiatives that support skills development, facilitate mobility and simplify over-prescriptive requirements. More room has to be given for the development of solutions that benefit both employers and workers through social dialogue. Kara McGann Nichola Harkin Neil Willoughby Róisín de Bhaldraithe