Globalisation, not that global for all
21 January 2016

On 18 January 2016 our friends from OXFAM published a report entitled ‘An Economy for the 1%. How privilege and power in the economy drive extreme inequality and how this can be stopped’. Their report, which comes at a time when this issue is the most pressing, a time when the richest 1% are set to own more than 50% of the world’s wealth (see p. 2 of the report). The world is polarised, not through multi-polar power and competition, but more simply because for the majority of the world’s population globalisation is not bringing wealth, nor a fair distribution of it. Unfortunately Europe is not exempt from this tendency, as the recent report on Employment and Social Development (ESDE) published in the frame of the European Semester also shows. Long term unemployment has not been significantly reduced, nor has precarious work. And now migrants and refugees are knocking on the door of the labour market. Astonishingly, studies from Germany show that minimum wages cannot be perceived as a burden, but rather as an instrument that increases contributions to the welfare system and more particular, social security. Migrants who are integrated in the labour market also increase contributions to social security if they have decent working conditions just like all other workers, employees or even the self-employed. Facts and figures are on our side, but the increasing share of the population who prefer to listen to the siren call of extremists and populists are not ready to face reality. Even though the statistics published by OXFAM are on our side, they won’t increase trust, owing to the increasing fear among in particular the middle class that they risk being driven down to the bottom of the current globalised and digitalised world we live in.

Nevertheless there are tools and policies to overcome this situation: fair tax policies for example! One does not need a crystal ball to understand that the famous 62 richest individuals who between them own as much as 3.6 billion people (the bottom half of humanity) are certainly also experts when it comes to avoiding taxes. The call for a Financial Transaction Tax (FTT) should be back on the agenda and be welcomed all those who rebel against this unfair distribution of wealth. Regulated and well protected labour markets with decent work and decent wages for equal work at an equal place would be the other element. The third element is social protection as stipulated by the UN agenda 2030 and ILO recommendation 202, although the ESDE 2015 report states that social protection schemes did not perform so well in the crisis as automatic stabilisers, as they suffered from financial and fiscal consolidation, in other words from blind austerity. Last but not least the other ingre dient or remedy is social investment which could be also considered in the European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI), but it is not.

If social investment did not pay off, private capital would not be in such a hurry to conquer parts of this market. But social investment pays in the long term: delivering cohesive societies where people do not live with the fear of losing. Over protection is not the problem, feeling exposed at times of increasing risks is. All this could be part of a more social European agenda and a social pillar which is more than a list of minimum provisions. In fact all this is not complicated, the only complication is getting the political majorities and the political will to take the plunge!

Together for Social Europe
Employment and Social Developments in Europe 2015 – No reason to celebrate
21 January 2016

The European Commission today presented the latest edition of its Employment and Social Developments (ESDE) Report in the frame of the European Semester process. ESDE gives a review of the latest employment and social trends, reflecting on upcoming challenges and possible policy responses. It is an important and relevant reference. Overall, there is no real reason to celebrate as the outlook remains gloomy for the (Social) European Union.

Although employment numbers are growing and unemployment is steadily declining, as Commissioner Thyssen stressed in her statement, huge disparities continue to exist between Member States, in terms of economic growth, employment and other key social and labour market indicators.

The main message of the report “Investing in people is key to economic growth” seems to be a flawed concept for the European Commission. Although SOLIDAR agrees with the key message that social investment is crucial for restarting the European economy and promoting social inclusion, we cannot agree with the terminology used, as words are not neutral. The report claims that many of “ […] these disparities are linked to an underutilisation of human capital on several fronts.” This terminology might fit well into today’s purely economist-based approach of checks and balances, where the focus is on profit-making at any cost and where parts of the workforce are being “amortised” – or made redundant – just like buildings, software or other (in)tangible assets in the production chain. Europe’s people are not “human capital” but rather human beings with dignity. Therefore, SOLIDAR strongly opposes the “commodification of pe ople” and the one-sided focus on competitiveness. The validation of skills and competences is a process, but the most of all it must be understood that this is not for free and needs to be financed through investment. If the Commission wants restore the “Social” triple A to its Social Market Economy it must accept the urgent need to prioritise social investment, education and lifelong learning. Civil society actors are key players in these areas and can contribute to the implementation of these policies.

Social Progress Watch on poverty and social inclusion
19 January 2016

The Social Progress Watch (SPW) initiative is a tool implemented by members and partners of SOLIDAR to monitor the commitment and progress made by national governments towards a more social and cohesive Europe. Through the SPW, SOLIDAR collects country reports on a yearly basis providing recommendations for upward social convergence as well as case studies presenting innovative and sustainable models to promote social inclusion, the social economy and quality job creation.

Availability and quality of social and healthcare services – Country reports from Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

The austerity measures promoted by the European institutions in recent years have had a negative impact on the access to and quality of social and healthcare services in several Member States.

Rather than investing in these services as a prerequisite for upward social convergence and inclusive economic growth, the Country Specific Recommendations of the European Semester evaluate them from a budgetary and fiscal perspective, i.e. urging EU Member States to increase the cost-effectiveness of their health and social services. In several Member States it is reported that the EU recommendations to increase cost-efficiency create a downward pressure on the availability and quality of these services, thereby straining their capacity to act as social safeguards.

Read the full version of the newsletter here.

Building Learning Societies
The role of intercultural dialogue, cultural diversity and education in promoting EU fundamental values
21 January 2016

The European Union is currently going through a deep crisis and is struggling at several levels and on various fronts. One specific problem is the crisis identity and sense of belonging as well as the associated integration and radicalisation crisis. Europe is at a point in history where the fear of the ‘other’ threatens to gain the upper hand and its reception policy is largely being questioned.

In order to tackle these challenges, MEP Julie Ward prepared a report on intercultural dialogue, cultural diversity and education in promoting EU fundamental values. SOLIDAR together with other major civil society organisations have been consulted at the early stages of the report by Ms Ward and had the opportunity to contribute with recommendations and observations from the practitioners’ side. On 19 January 2016 the European Parliament adopted Ward’s report by a large majority. The report aims to build upon a common agreement reached by all 28 EU Education Ministers in the aftermath of the Paris attacks – the Paris Declaration- and to tackle marginalisation, intolerance, extremism and radicalisation and to provide a common framework for equal opportunities for all. It recognises the unique role that culture, inclusive learning and active citizenship can play in building strong, resilient and cohesive communities of the future. More over, at the core of the discourse lies the possibility for increased self-knowledge which is the first step in beginning to understand ‘the other’. Accepted intercultural theory suggests that we learn most about ourselves when we see ourselves reflected in others. Knowing oneself is important for self-confidence and the development of social skills, all of which can help the process of integration as well as prepare one for active citizenship.

SOLIDAR is very pleased that this report has been adopted with such strong support (554 MEPs in favour of the report, 147 abstentions, 12 MEPs against the report). We believe that education and intercultural dialogue are strong and essential tools to fight xenophobia, racism, intolerance and radicalisation. Participation in lifelong learning fosters personal fulfilment, social integration and active citizenship as people undergo the process of developing social, civic and cultural competences. To increase its impact and to promote solidarity, social justice and fundamental values in our society, SOLIDAR recommends that Member States promote intercultural dialogue and citizenship education at an early age. Citizenship education and intercultural dialogue are a lifelong learning process and should be offered in all forms of education – in formal and non-formal settings.

On the local level, our members are already taking concrete actions with regards to intercultural dialogue and citizenship education. In France, La Ligue de l’enseignement has launched a very interesting project. The project “Jouons la carte de la fraternité” (Let’s play the fraternity card) arose from a simple idea: message in a bottle. Every year on 21 March, on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, children and teenagers send postcards to anonymous people whose names have been chosen randomly in the phone book of their district (département). Each postcard is made of a photograph and a fraternity message written during a writing workshop. The recipients are invited to send their answer with a detachable part to the local office of la Ligue de l’enseignement of their département, where it is then forwarded to the young senders. The project is based on the principle of fighting against the banalisation of discrim inating words using picture and image education and to promote schools as tolerant and humanist/secular places where children learn how to live together. By projects like this, reaching out to the general public we work on raising awareness and building inclusive communities.

Organising International Solidarity
Social Protection Floor is key to fighting child labour in Lebanon

19 January 2016

Last week, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and Lebanon’s Ministry of Labour launched two tools to advance the fight against child labour in Lebanon, namely the ‘Guide of Decree 8987 on Worst Forms of Child Labour’ and the ‘National Awareness Raising Strategy on the Worst Forms of Child Labour in Lebanon’. The two tools have been designed to support the effective implementation of the National Action Plan on the elimination of all forms of child labour in Lebanon for 2016, through increasing public awareness, promoting effective implementation of Decree 8987/2012 at the local level.

SOLIDAR welcomes the initiative and calls for the EU to join efforts to promote social protection floors as per ILO recommendation 202 as a standing commitment to uphold the fight against child labour in the context of EU-Lebanon cooperation priorities. A well-designed social protection floor can offer basic income security throughout the entire life-cycle, and therefore become an essential element in the fight against child labour.

SOLIDAR members and partners in Lebanon are working to promote decent work and social protection for all by monitoring economic, social and cultural rights shortcomings and violations in Lebanon. You can access the 2015 Social Protection Monitoring Report on Lebanon here.