Education and Training

A well-educated workforce, together with a commitment to research and innovation, is a prerequisite for sustainable growth and social cohesion. The ETUC pursues quality education for all, together with vocational training and lifelong learning, regardless of age or gender.

Learning paths must not only supply the labour market and help generate quality jobs, they should also support personal development and welfare. More public investment is needed, but private companies should also provide ongoing training to equip workers with the skills they need, taking account of digitalisation and new technologies.

05.10.2017 Press release

ETUC welcomes new European initiative on apprenticeships

The ETUC welcomes the European Framework for Quality and Effective Apprenticeships presented by EU commissioner Marianne Thyssen today.
01.09.2017 Page

Saving jobs in Switzerland

Trade union Unia has launched talks with pharmaceutical group Novartis in a bid to save hundreds of jobs in Basel, Switzerland. Novartis wants to cut or relocate 500 ‘traditional’ jobs in production, development and management, while at the same time recruiting some 350 high-skilled workers, mainly in bio-tech. The company plans to move some jobs to India.
20.03.2017 Page

Meeting the challenges of globalisation

Multinational energy and automation company Schneider Electric has reached an agreement with European trade unions that will help workers to anticipate change and deal with the impact of globalisation. Schneider Electric has 45,000 employees in 29 European countries. Negotiations addressed current challenges such as energy transition, digital transformation, evolving professions and increasing the number of young employees.
25.11.2016 Circular

For Information : Governance of the EU funds needs major improvement

Brussels, 25 November 2016 To: Education and Training Committee Members Governance  of the EU funds needs major improvement The ETUC and CEEP, together with their education sector partner organisations ETUCE and EFEE, organised a joint conference on 23 November entitled: “Investment and EU Funds for Education and Training – The European landscape and the role of the Social Partners”.
10.06.2016 Press release

Skills Agenda: ETUC welcomes Skills Guarantee

Commenting on the Skills Agenda launched today by the European Commission, Thiébaut Weber, ETUC Confederal Secretary, said “Europe needs a big push to support workers to increase their skills, and to cope with the transition to a digital, carbon-free and ageing society.” “The Skills Agenda is a useful step forward and the proposal for a Skills Guarantee, which was an ETUC demand, is very positive.”
06.06.2016 Press release

EU Skills Agenda – the big questions

Tomorrow European Commissioner Marianne Thyssen will unveil proposals for an EU Skills Agenda in the European Parliament, with a press conference later in the week. The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) believes that an ambitious agenda with concrete actions is essential: to upgrade skills to enable people seeking work to get jobs, for workers to remain employed and to move to better jobs, and to enable the European economy to meet the many challenges ahead.
26.04.2016 Press release

Trade union contribution for quality apprenticeships in Europe

Twenty quality standards for apprenticeships are proposed by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and Unionlearn (TUC) in their new publication “A European Quality Framework for Apprenticeships –  a European Trade Union Proposal”. Despite increased interest by policy-makers in apprenticeships as a means to combat youth unemployment, apprenticeships have been in decline in recent years (and even more so since the 1980s).
18.03.2016 Document

ETUC Position New Skills Agenda": Improving training opportunities for workers in Europe

Brussels 18, 2016  To Excutive Committee Members For Information to ETUC Members Orgaisaitons   New Skills Agenda”: Improving training opportunities for workers in Europe (ETUC position) Adopted at the Meeting of the executive committee on the 13th April 2016
15.03.2016 Publication

A European Quality Framework for Apprenticeships

The European quality framework for apprenticeships was launched during a conference held on 14 April 2016 in Brussels. This framework consists of 20 quality criteria, which have been developed in a bottom-up approach through engaging with experts at national and European levels over the course of 4 joint sectoral seminars and 20 national country visits. Other language versions of the publication will follow shortly.
15.01.2016 Page

call for tenders on the ETUC project "Improving social partners' involvement in EU support for public investments in training and education"

This is a call for a subcontractor to provide expertise as part of the implementation of the ETUC project on “Improving social partners’ involvement in EU support for public investments in training and education". Deadline for submission 8 February 2016.
15.12.2015 Document

ETUC assessment of the European Commission Work Programme 2016

ETUC assessment of the European Commission Work Programme 2016   ETUC position adopted at the ETUC Executive Commitee on the 16-17 December 2015 Introduction   This paper provides an ETUC assessment of the European Commission’s (EC) Work Programme 2016 (WP) No Time for Business as Usual.  
31.08.2015 Page

Brighter prospect for young electricians

From now on, young people starting work in the electricity sector should get better pay and working conditions, thanks to a landmark deal between the social partners. An industry undergoing major changes in Europe needs smart, skilled workers. Trade unions and employers alike recognise that it is important for new recruits to get high-quality training, good working conditions and career opportunities.
22.06.2015 Press release

ETUC backs the Riga conclusions on improving vocational education and training

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) welcomes today’s adoption by EU leaders of the Riga conclusions, a new set of priorities to improve Vocational Education and Training (VET) for the period 2015-2020. Luca Visentini, ETUC Confederal Secretary, speaking at the meeting of ministers in charge of Vocational Education and Training in Riga, said:
11.05.2015 Page

ENGIE deal guarantees €100 million for reskilling

Three European sectoral trade unions: industriAll Europe, the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) and the European Federation of Building and Woodworkers (EFBWW) have signed an important new agreement with the power and energy group ENGIE, to help workers adapt to the energy transition.
11.04.2014 Document

ETUC Resolution on Improving quality of Apprenticeship and Work-based learning

Adopted at the ETUC Executive Committee on 11-12 March 2014       Background   Work-based learning, which is generally associated with apprenticeships for young people and dual systems of vocational training, is part of the policies supporting the transition from school to the labour market. It is integrated into broader education and training policies linked to labour market issues. [1]  
07.04.2014 Speech

Creating a social Europe - European Social Dialogue 2014 - Keynote speech

Speech given by Bernadette Ségol, General Secretary of the ETUC 2 April 2014, Autoworld, Brussels Check against delivery
28.02.2014 Press release

Quality Framework for Traineeships: deceiving compromise reached at Coreper

Traineeships can admittedly be a springboard towards employment for young people.  Unfortunately, they can also constitute a trap, and that is why the European Parliament and the Council have launched a call for a “Quality Framework for Traineeships” (QFT). 
14.02.2014 Publication

Towards a European quality framework for apprenticeships and work-based learning

Best practices and trade union contributions
19.11.2013 Document

A new path for Europe: ETUC plan for investment, sustainable growth and quality jobs

Brussels, 07/11/2013 Annexes available in the PDF version Introduction
05.11.2013 Document

ETUC resolution: Supporting Workplace Learning to tackle unemployment in Europe

Brussels, 22-23/10/2013
18.10.2013 Press release

Social partners and the Commission decide that more cooperation is needed in the field of education and training policies

Brussels, 18/10/2013
28.03.2013 Document

ETUC Position on the European Commission Communication on Rethinking Education: Investing in skills for better socio-economic outcomes

Brussels, 05-06/03/2013 {{Background }} The Communication of the European Commission on Rethinking Education was published by the European Commission on 20 November 2012, accompanied by seven staff working documents: http://ec.europa.eu/education/news/rethinking_en.htm.The Communication will be integrated into Council conclusions, which will be adopted by the Education Council on 15th February 2013.
18.03.2013 Document

ETUC Action Plan on Active Ageing and Solidarity between generations

Brussels, 05-06/03/2013 {{Introduction }} The ETUC’s ambition: To continue and intensify mobilisation
15.03.2013 Document

ETUC position on Europe 2020 Strategy – an Assessment

Brussels, 05-06/03/2013
17.01.2013 Page

Towards a European quality framework for apprenticeship and work-based learning: best practices and trade unions contribution

Brussels, 17/01/2013