OREANDA-NEWS. On 3 February the Latvian Minister of Welfare Uldis Augulis will open the conference “Inclusive labour markets in Europe: the role of improved job quality and enhanced inclusion” organised by the Employment Committee of the Council of the European Union (EMCO) and the Social Protection Committee (SPC) of the EU Council.

The conference will be held on the 3rd and the 4th February and will focus on two main fields that have been in the centre of attention during the last years, in particular, job quality and sustainable labour market inclusion, including the role of the minimum income schemes. The outcomes of the conference will feed into draft Council Conclusions on Inclusive Labour Markets. They are due to be adopted by a meeting of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council of the European Union (EU) during the Latvian Presidency.

The conference will be attended by participants of EMCO and SPC informal meetings (including the representatives of all the EU Member States, the European Economic Area and the European Free Trade Association), representatives of EU institutions, international organisations and academic field. The quality of jobs has not been sufficiently focused on during the recent years. Its relation with increasing income inequality, in-work poverty and social exclusion merits further attention.

With economies recovering slowly and job creation picking-up only gradually, the long-term unemployment has increased. In order to prevent and overcome the long-term unemployment and reduce poverty whilst stimulating social activation, it is crucial to ensure well-functioning public employment services and well-targeted active inclusion strategies.

Also efficient social support ensuring adequate link between activation measures, unemployment benefits and minimum income schemes, by combining the relevant services (childcare, training, job search, support etc.) are essential tools for integrated approach aimed at reducing unemployment and poverty.

Social partners and civic society have an interest and a role to play in both areas – job quality and sustainable labour market inclusion, therefore their involvement is important.