On behalf of an international research consortium led by the University of Helsinki, CELSI would like to invite you to a conference themed Social Dialogue in Defence of Vulnerable Groups in Post-COVID-19 Labour Markets.

During the conference, findings regarding the protection of vulnerable groups in the labour market and the role of social partners in designing protection measures will be presented.

Date and time: 5 October 2023, 10.00 - 15.15 CET

Venue: Maison des Associations Internationales (M.A.I), Rue de Washington, 40, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium and online via Zoom

Please register here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc2Gm_MnEoeyjcQcVIfpuAS94qGVEBt3FyU3tZ1eLlIHhWDyg/viewform

We are kindly asking you to register before October 3, 2023. A hyperlink to the webinar will be sent to registered participants wishing to join online one day before the conference.

The conference will bring together researchers, policy makers, social partners and stakeholders addressing the role of vulnerable groups in the labour markets in Europe. The research findings result from the DEFEN-CE project, funded by the European Union (grant number VS/2021/0196) and implemented in 12 countries (Finland, Sweden, Czechia, Slovakia, Latvia, Lithuania, Italy, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Serbia, and Turkey).

The conference will be in English language only, without translation.

AGENDA:

09:30 – 10:00 Registration and reception

10:00 – 10:10 Opening

Minna van Gerven, Overall project coordinator

The DEFEN-CE project at a glance (video screening)

10:10 – 10:30 Keynote address

Ragnar Horn, DG Employment, the European Commission

10:30 – 11:30 Covid-19 measures to protect vulnerable groups at the labour market in the EU: national and EU-level perspectives

Presentation by Chaitawat Boonjubun (University of Helsinki) and Barbora Holubová (CELSI)

Commentary by Mark Bergfeld, UNI Europa

Q&A

11:30 – 13:00 Lunch

13:00 – 13:45 Social dialogue in protection of vulnerable groups: lessons learned from the Covid-19 crisis across Europe

Chair: Rense Nieuwenhuis (SOFI, Stockholm University)

Speaker: Marta Kahancová (CELSI), Scientific project coordinator

Q&A

13:45 – 15:00 Panel discussion: the role of social partners in social dialogue during and the aftermath of the Covid-19 crisis

Chair: Anil Duman (Central European University)

Panelists:

Giuseppe Guerini, CECOP-CICOPA Europe, Italy

Daiva Kvedaraite, Solidarumas, Lithuania

Lucie Trlifajova, Centre for Social Issues (SPOT), Czech Republic

Thomas Hector, European Federation for Family Employment and Home Care (EFFE)

15:00 – 15:15 Final remarks