At the plenary session of their social dialogue
committee held in February 2008 they recognized
that in the light of the sugar reform and the changing
environment, it was no longer possible to guarantee long
term employment to employees in the same company. It was
then decided to elaborate a project aiming at improving
the employability in the sugar industry. This work is
related to the standard 7 on ’ÄúRestructuring’Äù of
the Code of Conduct, providing that ’Äúin case of
restructuring the sugar industry acts in a socially
responsible way. Steps are taken to improve the
employability of employees’Äù.
The employability project has been launched in
December 2008 with the financial support of the European
Commission. The final result will be presented at the
annual plenary session of the sugar dialogue committee
planned on 26 February 2010.
The current works aim at :
. agreeing on a joint definition of the employability
concept in the sugar industry ;
. outlining the needs of the sugar industry in terms
of skills and competencies
. highlighting a number of good practice examples
within the sugar industry and outside.
With the help of the Code of Conduct the European
social partners were able ’Äì in the framework of their
mandate ’Äì to anticipate and manage the sugar
restructuring in an atmosphere of trust, mutual
understanding and constructive communication. Companies
have endeavored as far as possible to support employees
losing their job beyond their legal obligations. It
should be noted that ’Äì even if nobody could have
imagined in 2005 the extent of the reform and its human
and social consequences ’Äì virtually no social conflicts
have taken place since then.
New challenges facing the sugar
industry
A totally new situation is appearing in the marketing
year 2009/10 with :
. a complete implementation of the sugar regime
. a total liberalization of imports coming from ACPs
and LDCs countries,
. the EU shifting from a net exporter at the start of
the reform to the leading net importer in the
coming months.
. In addition it should be noted that the EU is no
longer self sufficient and is now depending of third
countries for one quarter of its supplies.
Messages of the European social
partners
In its Press release of March 2009 the Commission
welcomed the success of the sugar reform as the
restructuring process concluded. However the efforts
demanded to the sugar industry were considerable with
about 6 million tons relinquished in 4 years, the
closure of practically half of the factories and the
loss of more than direct 10 000 jobs. In order to ensure
the real success of the reform it is essential to:
’Ä¢ Ensure a balanced EU sugar market by a proper
market management in particular as regards imports of
sugar and sugar products into the EU. Any additional
concession granted in addition to the efforts already
made for the sugar reform ’Äì through bilateral, regional
or multilateral negotiation ’Äì might endanger the
sustainability of the sugar CMO and have substantial
impact on production and therefore employment.
’Ä¢ Reexamine the allocation of the surplus amount left
in the restructuring fund, which was financed by the
sugar profession and should be earmarked for the sugar
profession, in order to support the still ongoing
restructuring.
’Ä¢ Make sure that the Commission’Äôs external policy
remains consistent with the agricultural policy. This is
vital for the survival of the European sugar industry
and the ability to its companies to remain profitable
and competitive on the market, whilst continuing to
offer their employees prospects of employment and
employability.
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