Skills and education.
The ETUC members consider investment in skills to be a heavily financed priority (64 responses, of which 26 are the top priority). Resources should be allocated towards skill development and
lifelong learning opportunities to equip individuals with the necessary competencies for the evolving labour market. Requests for investment in skills are often associated to specific investments in digital skills.
Trade unions put a stronger emphasis on inclusivity to address inequalities and ensure equal access to education for all students, including those with disabilities and from disadvantaged backgrounds, and to ensure that everyone has access to quality education and training throughout their lives. This might include funding for adult education programs, literacy initiatives, and support for learners with special needs. This could Involve financing education and training programs, apprenticeships, and upskilling initiatives for a modern economy or career advancements. ETUCE highlights the need to invest in the education system and its accessibility and quality as a strategic asset for the EU as a whole, with funding for early childhood education, vocational training, lifelong learning programs, and initiatives to address educational disparities among different groups. The EU tends to identify barriers in accessing quality training in family responsibilities, financial barriers, but also courses not being flexible or diverse enough to adjust to learners’ needs and a lack of transport for people in rural areas. This is also true. However, collective agreements play significant role in removing barriers related to work organisation, and employment relationships which configure a right to receive training. It shows the urgent need of a EU legislation that introduces minimum floor of a right to receive training as part of the employment relationship. In conclusion, education and skill development are considered the crossroads between sustainable and social investments for a just transition. They should be well-financed and prioritised in MTFSPs, and monitored through the EU Semester, which would also give higher relevance to Porto’s target on education and skills.
Job creation and inclusive labour market
Job creation and labour market policies, including gender equality and opportunities, are seen as the second pillar of sustainable investments and a component of the social investment category (38 responses and 17 times among top priorities). Investment in initiatives to promote job creation, particularly in sectors with high Growth potential such as green economy, digitalisation, and healthcare, should be well financed and prioritised. Specific country needs set the accent on active labour market policies, gender policies for non-discrimination and equal opportunities. They are a priority in several EU programmes and should be well incorporated in the MTFSPs and monitored through Porto’s targets on employment and decent work indicators of SDGs, complementing the Social Scoreboard of the EU. It should be noted that 50 times responses included policy options that are directly connected with inclusiveness, which in most cases refer to employed People. Access to quality traineeships and youth policies based on equal opportunities and protection for young workers who enter the labour market or the workplace have been given high relevance. It may also cover investment for access to finance and market of SMEs or general access to public services and healthcare systems or more, in general, to address territorial disparities or promote regional cohesion.
Poverty and social exclusion
The ETUC members consider that investments in people at higher risk of social exclusion are particularly needed (29 responses, 16 of which give it a very high priority). The ETUC members would like their national plans to reflect the EU programmes that promote policies and services that support active ageing, promote independent living, and ensure quality long-term care for elderly citizens. This might include funding for age-friendly environments, community care services, and caregiver support programs. While poverty reduction remains a frequent priority, each country can be more focused on housing and homelessness or investment in childcare and family support services or long-term care and long-term care services. In conclusion, about investments against poverty and for social inclusion, the ETUC members would like to see in national plans the availability of resources for a more robust social protection system as part of social investment. Also, Porto’s target against poverty and indicators of SDG1, combined with the scoreboard that supports the implementation of recommendations on access to social protection, as a comprehensive set of indicators to monitor progress under this policy area in the EU semester.