Among those enterprises providing vocational training
in the EU27 in 2010, almost half (48%) of their employees participated in such
training. The highest proportions of employees participating were observed in
the Czech Republic (72% of all employees in enterprises providing training),
Slovenia (62%), Luxembourg (60%) and Slovakia (58%), and the lowest in Hungary
(27%), Lithuania (31%), Austria and the United Kingdom (both 37%). In the EU27,
a slightly higher proportion of employees in large enterprises (49% of
employees) do training than in medium-sized enterprises (45%) and small
enterprises (46%).
Author: SME Chamber
Continuing vocational training
Two thirds of enterprises in the EU27 provided
vocational training in 2010 – Continuous Vocational Training (CVT) corresponds to
training during working-time or paid at least partially by the employer (for
instance evening courses).
In the EU27, two thirds (66%) of all enterprises with ten
or more employees provided vocational training to their staff in 2010, compared
with 60% in 2005. The highest proportions of enterprises providing training
were observed in Austria and Sweden (both 87%) the United Kingdom (80%), the
Netherlands (79%), Belgium (78%) and France (76%), and the lowest in Poland
(23%), Romania (24%), Bulgaria (31%), Latvia (40%) and Hungary (49%). Malta
ranked at 54%
These data, published by Eurostat, the statistical
office of the European Union, come from the Continuing Vocational Training
Survey (CVTS), which is carried out every five years.
Fine-tuning of Generalised System of Preferences
The EU has made recent progress in fine-tuning its
Generalised System of Preferences (GSP), an incentive scheme lowering tariff to
encourage more imports from poorer developing countries. Whilst EuroCommerce
has been informed that recent accidents in Bangladesh will not endanger their
preferential status in 2013, this may change in 2014 should the country fail to
demonstrate sufficient progress in protecting its workers.
Decisions will be
made at an upcoming international labour conference as to the medium-term
preferential status of countries under attack for alleged serious violations of
labour obligations (Uzbekistan, Honduras, Guatemala, Kenya, and Zimbabwe).
Other news on the GSP is that several countries may lose their GSP status from
2015, now being ranked as high- and middle-income countries (China, Thailand,
Ecuador and the Maldives). Good news, however, for all members importing from
Bolivia, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Armenia, Georgia, Mongolia, Cape Verde,
Pakistan and Peru – these countries are set to be approved by the Commission
for GSP plus preferences (particularly low EU import tariffs rewarding
sustainable development).
made at an upcoming international labour conference as to the medium-term
preferential status of countries under attack for alleged serious violations of
labour obligations (Uzbekistan, Honduras, Guatemala, Kenya, and Zimbabwe).
Other news on the GSP is that several countries may lose their GSP status from
2015, now being ranked as high- and middle-income countries (China, Thailand,
Ecuador and the Maldives). Good news, however, for all members importing from
Bolivia, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Armenia, Georgia, Mongolia, Cape Verde,
Pakistan and Peru – these countries are set to be approved by the Commission
for GSP plus preferences (particularly low EU import tariffs rewarding
sustainable development).
EU strategy to step up fight against illicit tobacco trade
The European Commission has adopted a comprehensive
package to step up its fight against illicit tobacco trade, especially
cigarette smuggling. The illicit tobacco trade is a global threat depriving
Member States and the EU of over €10 billion revenue every year in terms of
unpaid taxes and duties.
Not only does this hit national revenues hard, illicit
trade also fuels the shadow economy since it is almost exclusively the domain
of organised criminal groups operating across borders. Furthermore, it also undermines
health policy initiatives aimed at discouraging the consumption of tobacco
products and legitimate business as most illicit products are not made in line
with EU rules on tobacco products. To effectively tackle the problem of illicit
tobacco trade, the Commission's strategy sets out a number of coordinated
measures at national, EU and international level.
trade also fuels the shadow economy since it is almost exclusively the domain
of organised criminal groups operating across borders. Furthermore, it also undermines
health policy initiatives aimed at discouraging the consumption of tobacco
products and legitimate business as most illicit products are not made in line
with EU rules on tobacco products. To effectively tackle the problem of illicit
tobacco trade, the Commission's strategy sets out a number of coordinated
measures at national, EU and international level.
Vacancies unfilled in the EU, but recruitment is declining in public and private sectors
Despite record unemployment in Europe, 1.7 million
vacancies are unfilled in the EU. This is one of the main findings of the
European Vacancy Monitor published by the European Commission. The report shows
that both employment and hiring are increasing in the areas of administration,
teaching, business, health care as well as engineering. However, the number of
unfilled vacancies is 4% lower than at the same period last year.
The June issue of the European Job Mobility Bulletin,
based on an analysis of the vacancies published on the EURES job search portal,
shows that some sectors are recovering from the economic crisis. Good job
opportunities are available for finance and sales associate professionals,
architects, engineers, housekeeping and restaurant service workers, personal
care and related workers and computing professionals. Finance and sales
associate professionals are particularly in high demand in the United Kingdom,
Germany and France.
based on an analysis of the vacancies published on the EURES job search portal,
shows that some sectors are recovering from the economic crisis. Good job
opportunities are available for finance and sales associate professionals,
architects, engineers, housekeeping and restaurant service workers, personal
care and related workers and computing professionals. Finance and sales
associate professionals are particularly in high demand in the United Kingdom,
Germany and France.
Ban on Flavouring substance
Following the scientific opinion of EFSA, the European
Commission and Member States (MS) decided on 22th May that the flavouring
substance 3-acetyl-2,5-dimethylthiophene should be banned. EFSA stated in its
press release that 'the possible risk to consumers who may have been exposed to
this substance in food is expected to be very small'. No exposure assessment
was done.
The decision to remove this substance from the list of
approved flavourings was supported by all MS and will now be subject to scrutiny
by the European Parliament and Council. It is expected to be adopted by the
European Commission and come into force in early July.
approved flavourings was supported by all MS and will now be subject to scrutiny
by the European Parliament and Council. It is expected to be adopted by the
European Commission and come into force in early July.
EU food additives list enters into force
Food additives are substances added intentionally to
foodstuffs to perform certain technological functions, for example to colour,
to sweeten or to help preserve foods. From 1 June 2013 the EU list of
authorised food additives takes effect and previous European directives are
replaced with a single regulation.
The EU list – which informs food industry
operators which additives can be used in food as well as how much of them and
for which purposes – takes account of five years of EFSA's scientific advice,
resulting in the removal of some additives and some of their uses from the
market. The new EU list further strengthens consumer protection and provides
greater clarity for food operators.
operators which additives can be used in food as well as how much of them and
for which purposes – takes account of five years of EFSA's scientific advice,
resulting in the removal of some additives and some of their uses from the
market. The new EU list further strengthens consumer protection and provides
greater clarity for food operators.
Keeping dangerous food off the shelves
An annual report on Europe's Rapid Alert System for
Food and Feed – (RASFF) revealed that in 2012 almost 50% of
notifications related to food and feed rejections at EU borders due to the risk
they posed to food safety. Launched more than 30 years ago, RASFF is an IT tool
that facilitates the cross-border flow of information between national food
safety authorities and plays a key role in ensuring a high level of food safety
for Europe's citizens.
Tonio Borg, EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer
Policy, said: "RASFF is now an indispensable tool to respond to, and mitigate,
food safety situations in the EU, since vital communication is swiftly
exchanged to protect European consumers. Whilst the horsemeat scandal that has
been making headline news does not fall within this reporting period, it is
important to highlight that thanks to the existence of RASFF, food safety
authorities throughout the EU were able to swiftly exchange information. As a
result, the products were traced and withdrawn from the market." To conclude:
"the Commission envisages to extend the scope of RASFF to the fight against
food fraud"
Policy, said: "RASFF is now an indispensable tool to respond to, and mitigate,
food safety situations in the EU, since vital communication is swiftly
exchanged to protect European consumers. Whilst the horsemeat scandal that has
been making headline news does not fall within this reporting period, it is
important to highlight that thanks to the existence of RASFF, food safety
authorities throughout the EU were able to swiftly exchange information. As a
result, the products were traced and withdrawn from the market." To conclude:
"the Commission envisages to extend the scope of RASFF to the fight against
food fraud"
Consultation on new Occupational Safety and Health policy framework
Consultation on new Occupational Safety and Health
policy framework The Commission has launched a public consultation to gather
insights and contributions from the public in addition to the recent evaluation
of the European Strategy on Safety and Health at Work 2007-2012.
policy framework The Commission has launched a public consultation to gather
insights and contributions from the public in addition to the recent evaluation
of the European Strategy on Safety and Health at Work 2007-2012.
This should
help identify current and future challenges in the occupational safety and
health area, and identify solutions to address these challenges. Among the
topics mentioned in the evaluation document, psycho-social risks,
simplification of the legal framework, impact on SMEs and ergonomics are
especially relevant for GRTU
help identify current and future challenges in the occupational safety and
health area, and identify solutions to address these challenges. Among the
topics mentioned in the evaluation document, psycho-social risks,
simplification of the legal framework, impact on SMEs and ergonomics are
especially relevant for GRTU
Further information
can be found at: http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=333&langId=en&consultId=13&furtherConsult=yes
