Common use of Introduction and Context Clause in Contracts

Introduction and Context. Achieving an inclusive labour market is a multi-faceted challenge and a key concern for European social partners. Employers’ and workers’ representatives at all levels, as well as social dialogue, have an important role to play to address this challenge. In the context of their European Social Dialogue Work Programmes for 2006-2008 and for 2009-2010, and on the basis of their Joint Labour Market Analysis, European social partners agreed to negotiate an autonomous framework agreement on “inclusive labour markets”. The challenging economic and social climate in which this framework agreement has been negotiated in 2008-2009 further strengthens the impetus for social partners to work together to promote inclusive labour markets, to maximise the full potential of Europe’s labour force and to increase employment rates and to improve job quality, including through training and skills development. Inclusion is also an important element of Europe’s response to long-term challenges, in particular demographic change, the shrinking working-age population and the sustainability of social protection systems. Inclusive labour markets are a way of taking advantage of new job opportunities such as those resulting from the ‘greening’ of the economy. The European social partners consider that an inclusive labour market is fundamental in terms of fostering economic development and social cohesion. The Framework Agreement is based on the principle that ensuring inclusive labour markets implies shared responsibilities of employers, individuals, workers, workers’ and employers’ representatives. The social partners are aware of the fact that achieving an inclusive labour market does not depend exclusively on their action. Public authorities and other actors have responsibilities in terms of ensuring that there is a framework which encourages and promotes inclusive labour markets. Inthis context, measures are also necessary, for example in terms of education and training, health, housing, transport, regional and local development. Annex 1 contains a non-exhaustive list of recommendations to public authorities and other actors. Synergies and partnerships need to be developed between different actors in order to increase the effectiveness of such measures. The European social partners furthermore highlight that, alongside this framework agreement, there exist several European legislative and non-legislative instruments of which the implementation and application is particularly relevant in order to achieve the aims and principles set out in this framework agreement. A non-exhaustive list of the instruments concerned can be found in Annex 2.

Introduction and Context. Achieving an inclusive labour market is a multi-faceted challenge and a key concern for European social partners. Employers’ and workers’ representatives at all levels, as well as social dialogue, have an important role to play to address this challenge. In the context of their European Social Dialogue Work Programmes for 2006-2008 and for 2009-2010, and on the basis of their Joint Labour Market Analysis, European social partners agreed to negotiate an autonomous framework agreement on “inclusive labour markets”. The challenging economic and social climate in which this framework agreement has been negotiated in 2008-2009 further strengthens the impetus for social partners to work together to promote inclusive labour markets, to maximise the full potential of Europe’s labour force and to increase employment rates and to improve job quality, including through training and skills development. Inclusion is also an important element of Europe’s response to long-term challenges, in particular demographic change, the shrinking working-age population and the sustainability of social protection systems. Inclusive labour markets are a way of taking advantage of new job opportunities such as those resulting from the ‘greening’ of the economy. The European social partners consider that an inclusive labour market is fundamental in terms of fostering economic development and social cohesion. The Framework Agreement is based on the principle that ensuring inclusive labour markets implies shared responsibilities of employers, individuals, workers, workers’ and employers’ representatives. The social partners are aware of the fact that achieving an inclusive labour market does not depend exclusively on their action. Public authorities and other actors have responsibilities in terms of ensuring that there is a framework which encourages and promotes inclusive labour markets. Inthis context, measures are also necessary, for example in terms of education and training, health, housing, transport, regional and local development. Annex 1 contains a non-exhaustive list of recommendations to public authorities and other actors. Synergies and partnerships need to be developed between different actors in order to increase the effectiveness of such measures. The European social partners furthermore highlight that, alongside this framework agreement, there exist several European legislative and non-legislative instruments of which the implementation and application is particularly relevant in order to achieve the aims and principles set out in this framework agreement. A non-exhaustive list of the instruments concerned can be found in Annex annex 2.