It is an event held under the French Presidency of the Council of the EU. The main subject of the meeting concerned the most important changes affecting the labour market, with an emphasis on skills, the role of social partners and social support for changes.

As part of the meeting, a plenary session and three parallel workshop sessions were held. The plenary session applied to the impact of the digital and climate transitions on the labour market.

During her speech, Deputy Minister Barbara Socha pointed to the issue of active labour market policies addressed to specific sectors and challenges, which is related to introducing green transition solutions making employers and employees have diversified adaptation mechanisms.

At the same time, she stressed that transition solutions geared towards climate neutrality, adopted at EU level, must consider the needs of all EU citizens, be fair and not contribute to deteriorating the economic conditions of the most vulnerable regions or social groups.

According to the Deputy Minister, it is therefore necessary to consider the starting position of the individual Member States and adapt the speed of transition to it.

During her address, Deputy Minister Socha also stressed the importance of digital transition for economically inactive persons, women in the labour market reconciling professional roles with raising children. She expressed her satisfaction with the fact that many countries pay attention not only to the climate and digital transitions, but also to the challenges related to demography.

The third workshop session, attended by Deputy Minister Barbara Socha, was dedicated to strengthening the role of social dialogue in adaptation of the labour market to climate and digital change.

As part of her speech, the Deputy Minister pointed to the unprecedented challenges related to the pandemic crisis, which will have to be addressed by means of renewed social dialogue at EU, national and sectoral levels, as well as at local level. She also indicated the challenges related to two transitions – green and digital.

As the Deputy Minister stressed, social partners must be able to respond to new challenges. According to the Deputy Minister, it is also necessary to create good, fast and efficient channels for the exchange of information, or to create a platform for such exchange, with access for all interested parties. Deputy Minister Barbara Socha pointed to the activities of the Social Dialogue Council and sectoral dialogue in Poland.

The Deputy Minister stressed that many of the indicated solutions will be implemented thanks to the use of European funds.