The Informal Meeting of Ministers for Employment and Social Affairs will take place in Luhačovice on 22 – 24 January. Chaired by Minister Petr Nečas, EU Members will discuss the mobility of workers and the Working Time Directive.

The debate will focus on specific measures regarding transitions between jobs or between professions, taken by Member States in order to enhance and facilitate professional mobility. It will also address the issue of transitional periods for the free movement of labour introduced by certain Member States. Another topic will be the removal of legal and administrative barriers to the free movement of the workforce and the support of cross-border recognition of qualifications.

The introductory panel (22 January) will feature, in addition to the Troika representatives, European Commissioner Vladimír Špidla and chairman of the Committee of the European Parliament on Employment and Social Affairs Jan Andersson. The social partners will be represented by members of the Confederation of European Business (BusinessEurope) and the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). The next day (23 January) negotiations will be divided into three thematic blocks. These blocks will be dedicated to the above-mentioned professional mobility, as well as geographic mobility, with the emphasis on the movement of job seekers within one state or between Member States. The third block will focus on the movement of workers from disadvantaged groups and how to ease labour market re-entry.

During the working lunch, Ministers will discuss the Working Time Directive and the strategy of the Council in conciliation proceedings with the European Parliament.