Page 195 - DMGT548_GLOBAL_HRM

Global HRM

Notes Rome (1957), some consideration was given to social policy issues related to the creation of the
European Community. In the EU, the terms social policy or social dimension, are used to cover
a number of issues including labour law and working conditions, aspects of employment and
vocational training, and social security.
The Social Charter of the Council of Europe came into effect in 1965. In 1987, the major objective
of the implementation of the Single European Act was to establish the Single European Market
(SEM) on December 31, 1992, in order to enhance the free movement of goods, money, and
people within the SEM. The social dimension aims to achieve a large labour market by eliminating
the barriers that restrict the freedom of movement and the right of domicile within the SEM. The
European Community Charter of the Fundamental Social Rights of Workers (often referred to
simply as the Social Charter) was introduced in 1989, and has guided the development of social
policy in the 1990s (EC, 1990).
The Social Chapter in the Treaty of Amsterdam opens with a general statement of objectives. It
then sets out the objectives for the E.U.: to support and complement the activities of the Member
States in a number of listed areas. These include improvement of working conditions and of the
working environment in the interests of workers, integration of persons excluded from the
labour market, and equality of opportunity, and at work, between men and women. However,
the Treaty excludes matters of pay, the right of association, and the right to strike or to lock out.
The European Commission department responsible for social policy is known as Directorate-
General V (often abbreviated to ‘DG V’).

Notes Introduction: Based in Brussels and Luxembourg DG V is the European Commission
department responsible for social policy. It is made up of six directorates responsible for
different areas of social policy.
Directorate General

Directorate A: is responsible for employment policies, labour market policies, employment
services (eures), and local development and re-adaptation.
Directorate B: is responsible for policy development of the European Social Fund,
information on the Fund, assessment of the political impact of the Fund, the Community
initiatives, technical assistance and innovation studies, and adaptation to industrial change.

Directorate C: is responsible for the operation of the European Social Fund in the Member
States.
Directorate D: is responsible for relations with the social partners and organisations of the
dialogue, industrial relations and labour law, coordination of social security for migrant
workers, migration policy and promotion of free movement for workers, equal
opportunities for women and men, and family policy.
Directorate E: is responsible for analysis of and research on the social situation, social
security and actions in the social field, and integration of disabled people. It also deals
with external relations, international organisations, information and publications on behalf
of the whole Directorate-General.
Directorate F: (based in Luxembourg) is responsible for analysis, coordination and
development of policies and programmes in the field of public health, implementation of
action programmes targeted on diseases, health promotion and disease surveillance, and
Contd...

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