EU & Sector Initiatives

Promoting employment and attractive working conditions in the European rail sector

Promoting employment and attractive working conditions in the European rail sector

Joint project of the European rail social partners CER and ETF (2014-2016)

Promoting employment in the rail sector is one of the priorities that the European social partners CER and ETF have been addressing together in the context of their social dialogue. Demographic change, skill gaps, adaptation to structural, legislative and technical developments are some of the challenges that rail companies are facing and that can benefit from a functioning dialogue between employers and employees’ representatives.

In order to analyse the assets and potential of the rail sector as an employer, CER and ETF promoted the two-year joint social partner project ‘Promoting employment and attractive working conditions in the European rail sector’ (2014-2016). The project received European Union funding through the Social Dialogue budget line of DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion.

The project was structured around three thematic focal points: 1) overview of the image and attractiveness of working places in the European railway sector; 2) employment perspectives and strategies in European railway companies; 3) sustainable working conditions, personnel development and retention measures.

Project activities included workshops, surveys and in-depth interviews with companies’ and employees’ representatives. CER and ETF members played an active and crucial role during the entire project lifecycle. In particular, twelve EU member states were subject to a more detailed analysis: Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and United Kingdom.

What next?

In order to ensure the necessary follow-up to the project, CER and ETF will assess its results in the context of the Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for Railways with a view to agreeing on a set of Joint Recommendations of the social partners.

Project deliverables

Data, good practices and case studies collected during the project activities are presented in the final report, together with the conclusions and recommendations formulated by the authors of the report in cooperation with the social partners.

The full project report is available in English, French and German. The executive summary is available in Italian, Swedish, Dutch, Bulgarian, Czech and Slovenian. The collection of country reports is available in English only.

 

DOWNLOAD

Project report: EnglishFrenchGerman

Executive summary:  ItalianSwedishDutchBulgarianCzech and Slovenian

Country reports

Final conference report