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Changes in the world of work to the fore of discussions between Eurofound and Irish social partners, ICTU and IBEC
Eurofound’s management met with Irish social partners, Patricia King, General Secretary, ICTU and Danny McCoy, Chief Executive Officer, Ibec, at Eurofound in Dublin, on Wednesday, 15 December 2021, to discuss some of the Agency’s most recent research findings on changes in workplace practices, work organisation, hybrid working, gender, labour market dynamics, the role of collective bargaining, quality of life and upward convergence.
Executive Director, Ivailo Kalfin, Deputy Director, Maria Jepsen, along with the social partners reflected on the continuous dialogue and cooperation between Ireland’s only EU Agency and the social partners, and how the COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the importance of communicating timely information and findings at both a national and European level as well as the added value that Eurofound’s comparative research across the EU Member States brings to its stakeholders.
Danny McCoy, Chief Executive Officer, Ibec said, ‘one overarching feature where we could use Eurofound’s EU wide comparative research is in the area of the changing dynamics of the labour market. Ireland has become a resource economy, the explosion of wealth within the society is evidenced by the growth in GDP, and the profound consequences on the labour market as people are reducing their participation and withdrawing from the labour market. There are many lessons that can be learnt from other parts of Europe.’
Speaking during the meeting, Patricia King, General Secretary, ICTU said, ‘Data is valuable information, and it is very valuable that people make judgements based on good information. Eurofound has an important role to play in adding to that valuable information.’
‘It is a privilege and a great opportunity to work with the social partners and I want to emphasise my ambition to continue the Agency’s cooperation with you. We are happy to provide you, our stakeholders and the larger public with details and topical research on the world of work and quality of life, which you can use when deciding on socio-economic and work-related policies,’ said Ivailo Kalfin, Eurofound’s Executive Director.
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