Conference on "Quality of work - the key to more and better jobs": conference report

Abstract

"'Pooling forces for a social Europe - for a social world': that was the motto of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs for the German Presidency of the EU Council. Europe must further the social orientation of the integration process, highlight and communicate the common values and objectives in relation to a social Europe and make the social Europe more visible. The quality of work plays a key role in this strategy. A social Europe is inconceivable without a world of work in which people experience recognition in worker-oriented and health-promoting corporate cultures. A competitive Europe is inconceivable without an economy which produces top performances. Committed workers and responsible, innovative companies which operate successfully on the world market are the two sides of the one coin which is called 'good work'. Good work means: Fair wages, health-promoting working conditions, codetermination, opportunities for further training and qualifications as well as a family-friendly design of the world of work. In order to increase the quality of work, the objective is to further develop innovative corporate cultures. For this purpose we need an exchange of experience between states, societies, companies and the workers for 'pooling forces' also means learning from one another and solving problems together - for the benefit of everyone in Europe. This European conference on the 'Quality of work' is one example of this. The successes of this conference are also an expression of the pooled forces of the partners who have contributed towards these successes. Therefore, our thanks must go to the Bertelsmann Foundation, the Hans-Böckler Foundation, the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions and the New Quality of Work Initiative for their dedicated involvement and the work they have performed." (author's abstract)