Social Pacts in Portugal: Agreement on Employment Policy, the
Labour Market, and Education and Training
Period: 2001
Negotiating Parties: Government, General Confederation of
Portuguese Workers – Cross-Union (CGTP-IN), the General
Workers’ Union (UGT), The Confederation of Portuguese Farmers
(CAP), the Confederation of Portuguese Trade and Services (CCP),
The Confederation of Portuguese Industry (CIP)
Goals of the pact: Setting a framework for comprehensive
training policy for enhancing the quality and sustainability of
employment and for raising the competitiveness of workers
Matters agreed:
Promotion of quality in training and skill accreditation:
- Agreement of strategic objectives and priorities on training
and employment
- Establishment of a tripartite Consultative Council for Professional
Training (CCFP) with a concrete mandate (consultative and
monitoring functions, holding regular quarterly plenary meetings,
promotion of the harmonisation of various training and
qualification programmes)
- Consolidation of the National Certification System of acquired
skills
- Re-evaluation of the existing system of training programmes
- Creation of reliable operational indicators to assess employment
practices and training
Active measures for professional training development
- Improving access and quality of education and training for
adults, especially those socially disadvantaged
- Development of a system of on-going professional training
to enhance company competitiveness and introduce support measures
and incentives
- Promotion of preventive management measures in situations
of company crisis (e.g. retraining of potentially displaced
workers)
- Promotion of professional training programmes for sectors
undergoing profound economic restructuring
Initial training and transition to employment
- Development of open, flexible education and training systems
- Introduction of a training clause in the labour contracts
of young people under 18 years old entering the labour market
- Labour contracts signed by the employer should always
designate a period for training during working hours.
- The employer may assume the responsibility for training
or delegate to the Institute for Employment and Professional
Training
(IEFP)
- Training shall last a total minimum of 1,000 hours, 200-300
hours every four months within a system of flexible training
time
management.
- Financial assistance (through compensation of social
security tax payments and other charges) is provided for
such professional
training measures for young people
Increase the levels of employment quality
Institutions involved:
Standing Committee for Social Dialogue (CPCS) in the Economic and
Social Council
Follow-up: A monthly follow up of the execution of the
agreement, undertaken by the tripartite workgroup, established in
the CPCS.
Background: A decade after the 1991 Agreement on training,
after 10 months of negotiation in the tripartite working group established
by the
CPCS, a new agreement was reached.
Impact:
If agreements are effectively implemented, they will lead to
institutional changes with social dialogue as a key factor.
Comments: This pact was singed by the government and all of
the main social partner orgnaisations.
Full text of the agreement: Available for purchase at
http://www.ces.pt/html/e_main.htm
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