Commission bid to boost job quality

Date: 14/06/01

By John Shelley

SOCIAL affairs chief Anna Diamantopoulou plans to test member states' employment policies by measuring how happy their workers are, in addition to their success at creating jobs.

In a paper due to be adopted by the European Commission next week, Diamantopoulou says the institution should monitor job satisfaction and stress levels as part of its annual evaluation of the Union's job market.

Ultimately, the plans could result in her castigating governments with high levels of employment - but a dissatisfied workforce. "The most fundamental objective of any modern European government is to raise the standards of living and quality of life of its citizens on a lasting basis," reads the paper by the Employment and Social Affairs Commissioner.

The communication is Diamantopoulou's response to a call made by EU leaders at the Nice summit in December and repeated at Stockholm in March, that the bloc should concentrate on promoting quality and not just quantity in employment. "The Commission aims to 'raise the game' in Europe - to progressively, but significantly improve the pace at which the quality of life is improved," reads the paper.

In it, the social affairs supremo outlines a range of key statistics she should compile in her role of overseeing Europe's push to full employment.

As well as job satisfaction and stress levels, she believes rates of workplace accidents and occupational diseases, such as repetitive strain injury, should be monitored.

She also wants to study the flexibility employees have in their working arrangements, their access to training and promotion and the availability of child care.

Social affairs chief Anna Diamantopoulou plans to test Member States' employment policies by measuring how happy their workers are, in addition to their success at creating jobs.