10/03/2014

On 10 March, the Council adopted a recommendation on a quality framework for traineeships and discussed the employment and social policy aspects of the 2014 European Semester.

The recommendation on a quality framework for traineeships aims to enable trainees to acquire high-quality work experience under safe and fair conditions, and to increase their chances of finding a good quality job.

The recommendation provides a common set of guidelines that will increase transparency and improve the quality of traineeships. The member states are invited to put the following principles into practice:

traineeships to be based on a written agreement
better learning content and respect for the rights and working conditions of trainees
reasonable duration of traineeships and their proper recognition
increased cross-border mobility of trainees in the EU

Traineeships are crucial for ensuring a smooth transition from school to work, but are currently used differently across the member states. According to a recent Eurobarometer survey, one in three traineeships is substandard with regard to working conditions or learning content. Many of these substandard traineeships are used by employers to replace entry-level jobs

The adoption of the recommendation will support the implementation of theYouth Guarantee schemes by EU member states.
Council recommendation on a quality framework for traineeships PDF

Other topics on the agenda

The ministers held a policy debate on the employment and social policy aspects of the 2014 European Semester exercise, with a view to contributing to the broader discussions at the European Council meeting of 20 and 21 March. In this context, the Council adopted:

conclusions on the 2014 Annual Growth Survey and Joint Employment Report, which give political guidance on employment and social policies
the draft Joint Employment Report
a general approach on the draft decision on employment guidelines
conclusions on the social situation in the EU

The ministers also exchanged views on the progress regarding the Europe 2020 strategy. In the framework of the mid-term review of the strategy, the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council will have to ensure that the European Semester process incorporates the objectives of the strategy more effectively, i.e. delivering smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.

Council conclusions on the 2014 Annual Growth Survey and Joint Employment Report PDF