Working Committee Social Dialogue
What?
The Working Committee deals with matters concerning the
Confederation in the field of Social Dialogue. It meets at least twice
a year.
Who?
The members of the Working Committee Social Dialogue
are experts and are delegated by the CoESS members.
Activities
Vocational training
In the field of vocational training, a project supported by the European
Commission DG Education and Culture, under the Leonardo Program, and DG
Employment and Social Affairs has led to the establishment of the "European
Vocational Training Manual for Basic Guarding within the Guarding Services
sector of the Private Security Industry in Europe". It has been the
result of 3 years of intensive work and extensive cooperation by COESS
and UNI-EUROPA. The successful completion of this project has been achieved
through active participation and mutual respect between the social partners.
This cooperation has ensured the structured, professional and high quality
contents of the training manual.
The social partners felt strongly that it is essential in order to maintain
standards and increase professionalism in the security industry, that
the European vocational training manual for basic guarding and it's contents,
which have been agreed by the social partners, forms the minimum basis
for the training of security guards throughout Europe at national level.
They also feel that delivery of the contents of the manual by professional
trained security industry trainers will ensure that the ideology and methodology
of lifetime vocational learning will progress the interests of the security
guard, the security service providers and the national social partners.
This will ensure that the benefits of the social dialogue as experienced
by the social partners at European level is transferred to the national
level.
It is important for security industry trainers, who deliver and present
the material contained within the manual and for the security guards who
are trainees and who are expected to achieve the specific learning outcomes
from the educational contents of the manual, that they have an understanding
and knowledge of the methodology used in the structuring of the manual
and it's contents and how it can be transferred into the security training
environment at national level.
This manual is a generic European manual. Some of the units must be adapted
to the specific national situation (e.g. regulations, law, culture and
so on). It describes what vocational qualifications are, how they should
be applied, which subjects are covered and what has to be developed on
national level. Vocational qualifications for basic guarding form the
starting point towards the development of professional standards in the
private security service sector. There is a huge difference in performance
of the private security services and in the way the sector is imbedded
in legislation throughout Europe. Concerning education and training the
difference varies from countries were vocational training is obligatory
for any employee entering the private security sector to countries were
there are no regulations at all.
One of the main goals of the manual is to develop a European wide basic
training structure that will affect both the level of professionalism
and the image of the sector. It does not aim to change any national training
system although it surely has an effect. The primary goal is to supply
a basic training structure that can be discussed nationally and is to
be set as a minimum standard in the near future according to national
law. One of the basic principles is that the minimum training standards
affect people entering the sector (new employees). Recurrent training
is being considered as well but needs a different strategy for the future.
The objective of the basic training program is to realise a minimum standard
for every security guard in service. The basic training provides the necessary
knowledge and skills needed for execution of the job. The training is
focussing on easy to measure performance emphasising:
- Observation techniques
- Written and oral reporting
- Social skills and customer approach
- Efficient and effective operation
The manual exists already in a number of EU languages and has been widely
disseminated on paper and CD-rom support. In 2003 a new subsidy was obtained
from the European Commission to translate the manual into all EU languages
and languages of candidate member states and to continue its dissemination
on a wide scale.
Currently, within the social dialogue, there is discussion on the development
of a second manual, focusing on training for specific jobs within the
industry. It would cover the development of a European educational toolkit
for three private security activities/profiles: 1) mobile patrolling 2)
alarm response centres and 3) airport security.
The award of contracts to private security companies in the public
sector
Tendering is not an easy topic. It concerns relations with the customer,
it is about prices, it is about competition, it refers to work organisation
and the input by the employees… it is about core activities and delicate
high level decisions in every private security company throughout Europe.
When CoESS and UNI-Europa decided to start discussing together this topic,
they took without any doubt a risk. Tackling this topic from the angle
of quality, in a joint effort and at a European level was at the start,
and by definition, a hazardous adventure. In their Joint Memorandum on
this issues adopted in Berlin in 1999, UNI-Europa and CoESS, with the
support of their national member organisations, recommend that the authorities
and private sector players awarding private security services and surveillance
contracts use this manual. Its goal is to convince these authorities to
take account of the best value for money when choosing a security firm.
The Memorandum also reflects a joint commitment to seek a consensus on
a subject where interests appear to be highly divergent. Yet the goal
to improve the quality of services and the quality of working conditions
is consistent with the objective of improving the sector's level as a
whole.
Starting from these shared concerned, CoESS and UNI-Europa developed
a manual: "Selecting Best Value: A Manual for Organisations Awarding
Contracts for Guarding Services".
It is a fact that guarding services are becoming more and more a part
of everyday life. As more and more security functions, which were previously
carried out directly by public authorities are contracted out, private
security companies are becoming increasingly involved in ensuring public
safety. This often includes the guarding of highly sensitive sites such
as airports or nuclear power stations. Public authorities at European,
national, regional and local level are therefore increasingly finding
themselves in a position of having to select external contractors for
the provision of such services. Public procurement officers have in the
past often had to make such decisions without adequate guidance on quality
criteria, which might be brought to bear on such decisions. This manual
was written for those contracting authorities who are keen to ensure that
they are selecting a provider to carry out guarding functions who can
combine quality with a favourable price, rather than settling for the
lowest price bidder.
The manual is designed to guide procurement officers through different
key quality criteria to consider when selecting a high quality provider
for guarding services. It helps them distinguish between the requirements
of different sites and guarding tasks. In doing so, it enabled contracting
authorities to issue clear and detailed specifications of their requirements
to prospective tenderers, thus generating a higher quality response.
The manual presents a scoring framework to evaluate bids which:
- Provides maximum autonomy to tendering authorities to define their
own needs;
- Is objective;
- Quantifies quality criteria with a points system;
- Allows price and different quality criteria to be weighted according
to the needs of each guarding task;
- Is user-friendly;
- Is adaptable to different situations
A disk is also available which allows tendering authorities to specify
for each contract, which criteria are of particular relevance and how
price and quality are weighted. The scoring database then carries out
all relevant calculations, allowing an objective assessment of the best
value provider.
This manual is different from other bidding guidance for a number of reasons.
Not only does this manual provide specific guidance on the criteria to
be considered when selecting a quality provider for the provision of guarding
services, but this advise has been compiled by those who know the industry
best - businesses and employees in the private security industry. Because
the manual was produced at European level, it has also been checked and
approved by the European Commission and is therefore conform with European
Union legislation on public procurement.
After a wide-scale dissemination campaign (including through the availability
of the manual and the scoring tables on a web-site- www.securebestvalue.org),
the manual has found its way, at national level, to tendering authorities
and private companies in need of guarding services. It has already proven
to be a very successful and objective instrument and is effectively being
used by a number of national authorities. It is also a very efficient
instrument in the fight against bogus self employed and other illegal
forms of employment within the sector.
In many EU and candidate countries (a.o. Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain,
Denmark, Austria, the Czech Republic,…), specific round tables have
been organised to explain to national authorities and a wide range of
experts the aims and the methodology of the manual. Each of these round
tables has known a great success.
Social dialogue and mutual recognition by UNI-Europa and CoESS
Since 1992, the representatives of the private security sector at European
level, CoESS for employers and UNI-Europa for workers, have set up a sectoral
social dialogue committee under the aegis of the European Commission.
The two organisations recognise each other as legitimate partners and
representatives and they have signed a reciprocal recognition agreement
which sets out the objectives and means of their dialogue.
Signed in Berlin in 1999, the joint declaration on mutual recognition
between the representatives of employers and those of workers implies
their co-operation in achieving further progress in the social dialogue
in the private security sector. It is also a significant document in the
construction of the European social chapter.
The joint declaration guarantees the continuity of the common objectives
developed in the framework of the social dialogue, that is to say the
need to improve working conditions, professionalism, training and the
sector's image, while ensuring the ongoing expansion of the sector's activities.
The declaration is not merely a declaration at European level. It also
asserts the mutual recognition between trade unions and employers' organisations
at national level and within companies. This determination to establish
a dialogue at all levels, and in particular within companies, is crucial
to achieving the common objectives.
In order to disseminate the content of this declaration, CoESS and UNI-Europa
published a brochure "The challenges and results of the social dialogue
in the private security sector".
The aim of this brochure is to inform workers and companies in the sector
of the main results achieved to date and to enhance their awareness of
the challenges facing their social dialogue at European level. With the
financial backing of the European Commission, some 100.000 copies of this
brochure have been distributed in Europe. CoESS and UNI-Europa want this
brochure to contribute to the development of a constructive social dialogue
at company level in the private security sector, thereby extending and
implementing in concrete terms the results achieved at European level.
Enlargement of EU
From the start of the EU enlargement process, CoESS and UNI-Europa have
supported all the efforts made to enlarge the European Union by including
the Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs). In the enlarged Europe
they continue to believe that enlargement is essential to guarantee peace,
democracy and economic and social development in Europe.
With regard to the private security sector, CoESS and UNI-Europa believe
that preparatory work prior to further enlargement of the European Union
should make it possible to avoid certain economic, political and social
risks which may arise when workers and businesses accustomed to very different
social and regulatory circumstances are drawn into competition with the
other European Union countries. CoESS and UNI-Europa also believe that
continuing support should be given to the new Member States in the process
of developing a well-functioning private security sector. They believe
that a number of measures should be taken, by the social partners in these
countries among others, to bring the sector closer to the situation found
in the (former) Member States of the European Union. Among these measures,
as a matter of urgency:
- the sector should be organised, supporting the establishment of free
and representative organisations for the social partners (employers
and trade unions) with mutual recognition national, regional and local
(company) level;
- these organisations should be encouraged to take part in the European
social partners' organisations (CoESS and UNI-Europa) and become involved
as much as possible in the work of the European social dialogue;
- a constructive social dialogue should be encouraged between these
organisations at every level.
But the social partners in the CEECS should also undertake to develop
their social dialogue with a view to reaching concrete agreements. CoESS
and UNI-Europa believe that this social dialogue should make it possible,
as a matter of priority, to:
- define the parameters of healthy competition (respect for regulations,
introduction of minimum standards of training, etc.)
- work with the public authorities to develop rules and standards for
licences and vocational training to provide a framework for the sector's
activities;
- develop professional standards, and improve both working conditions
and the image of the sector.
Given the challenges which lie ahead for the social partners in the CEECS,
CoESS and UNI-Europa believe that those security companies based within
the European Union which are investing in the CEECS market also have important
responsibilities. They must be encouraged by the social partners to develop
good social conditions for workers in their subsidiaries in these countries,
and to improve the professionnalisation. CoESS and UNI-Europa are ready
and willing to assume their share of the responsibility, and they undertake
to organise regular monitoring of the private security sector in the new
Member States and in the applicant countries, to develop their contacts
with the social partners and to give these partners their support, assistance
and aid to enable them to rise to the challenges posed by the enlarged
European Union.
As a concrete follow-up of this joint text, a first conference has been
organised by the social partners in Vilnius on 15 October 2002. It concerns
an initiative by UNI-Europa which has from the start been supported by
CoESS. It has as a major objective to give trade unionists and employers
of the private security sector of the Baltic countries and Poland, together
with representatives from Sweden, Denmark and Finland, the opportunity
to meet, to exchange information and to build contacts for the future.
A similar event with other CEECs has been organised in 2003, at the initiative
of CoESS and with the support of UNI-Europa.
In April 2005, a conference was held in Warsaw, tackling the challenges
of Social Dialogue after the EU enlargement.
In March 2006, CoESS, together with UNI-Europa, is planning a Round Table
on Social Dialogue in the Private Security Sector in the Baltic States.
The modernisation of the organisation of work
Starting from the 2000 Joint Declaration on this theme, CoESS and UNI-Europa
developed a "Framework of reference and action at the European level
on the modernisation of organisation of work" which focuses on the
following issues raised in the declaration: the evolutions in the field
of organisation of work, the development of the quality of services and
the quality/price ratio, the demand for flexibility and its consequences
on management of working hours, the impact of the use of new technologies
on employment and qualifications, the improvement of working conditions
and the development of vocational and continuing training.
The objectives of the action were to establish a survey of the European
private security sector, to establish a descriptive and comparative analysis
of the systems of legislation and collective agreements in 6 Member States,
as well as of the economic development of the sector (macro-analysis),
to conduct a qualitative analysis of organisation of work and its modifications
at the enterprise level (micro-analysis) and, finally, to propose a theoretical
framework of reference and action at the European level on the modernisation
of organisation of work in the private security sector, on the basis of
a descriptive and comparative analysis of the systems of legislation and
collective agreements of 6 Member States.
As for its methodology, a first stage consisted in setting up the methodology,
designing the study and survey, researching the literature, interviewing
key informants, and elaborating and testing the analysis and interview
schedules. The second and third stages constituted the survey per se.
First of all, systems of regulation and collective agreements concerning
the organisation of work in 6 Member States (Belgium, Denmark, Spain,
France, the Netherlands and the UK) have been studied and analysed. This
investigation on organisation of work revolved around four themes: vocational
training, working hours, working conditions (including aspects related
to health and safety, and wages) and the impact of technological innovations.
An analytical framework has allowed to structure the data in order to
improve the coherence and comparability of the collected information.
Key data of the sector and some economic indicators have also been gathered
to put international comparisons into context. This theoretical approach
has been supplemented by interviews with the national social partners
of the sector so as to have their opinion on the development of the sector
as far as the systems of legislation and the organisation of work are
concerned. It has also been an opportunity to cast a prospective view
on the sector. The results of the analyses have been reported to the group
and were followed by a discussion. Secondly, based on the comparative
analyses and the sociological contexts, a limited sample of enterprises
were selected to participate in the qualitative research. This sample
has been determined according to reasonable criteria and in consultation
with the work group. It has thus been possible to identify 3 companies
(case studies) per country according to the chosen criteria. In total,
case studies amounted to a number of 18.
The fourth stage was the assessment stage during which all the results
will be put into perspective to define a theoretical framework of reference
and action at the European level on the modernisation of organisation
of work. This theoretical framework was presented at an enlarged meeting
of the European social dialogue, where the social partners considered
defining all the other actions the necessary steps to verify this framework
of reference and action and to ensure its validity.
The project was realised in March 2003.
Harmonisation of legislation governing the private security sector
The joint text signed by CoESS and UNI-Europa on 13 December 2001 has
without any doubt tackled the most ambitious theme: the necessary harmonisation
of legislation. While CoESS and UNI-Europa are making every effort to
obtain greater harmonisation of the regulations applicable to the sector,
through their different joint actions within the European social dialogue,
an important limit on their action should be emphasised. In effect, many
subjects dealt with in the framework of the European social dialogue lie
beyond the powers of CoESS, UNI-Europa and their respective members. Several
subjects tackled within the European social dialogue are also the responsibilities
of the European Council of Ministers and national governments.
Not being able to act alone with regard to these different subjects,
CoESS and UNI-Europa have therefore launched calls upon the European ministers
responsible to take the necessary measures so that the private security
sector is governed by laws aimed at ensuring high quality standards and
a high degree of professionalism in all countries of the European Union,
and so that European harmonisation of the following aspects can be developed:
authorisations to practice (workers), licences (companies), evaluation
and supervision by the public authorities, professional training, health
and safety, working conditions, provision of cross-border services. CoESS
and UNI-Europa believe, moreover, that with regard to the future enlargement
of the European Union, there should be a harmonised regulatory framework
at the European level for the private security sector. Such a framework
would in effect be particularly useful for candidate countries in their
preparations for membership.
CoESS and UNI-Europa also believe that any process of harmonisation should
be respecting the modalities of cooperation between public authorities
and the social partners of the private sector which prevail at national
level. However, with the objective of guaranteeing a more efficient impact
of harmonisation of regulations governing the sector, the responsible
authorities should make an effort in order to establish or to develop
modalities of cooperation which allow all parties involved, and first
of all society as a whole, to benefit from the best possible security
offered.
Finally, CoESS and UNI-Europa and their respective members believe that,
given their role as legitimate representatives of companies and workers,
they should be involved in the processes and work leading to a better
harmonisation of the national regulations applicable to private security.
In this respect, CoESS and UNI-Europa are prepared to work closely with
the European Council of Ministers, the national Ministers responsible,
the European Commission and the European Parliament.
Within their Social dialogue, the task of harmonisation is now also underway.
It is an immense task.
First of all, CoESS and UNI-Europa have conducted a study "A comparative
overview of legislation governing the private security industry in the
European Union" which gives an overview of the existing national
legislations. The aim of this study was to inform the December 2001 Brussels
Conference (see below) and the drafting of the joint declaration. Its
objective was to provide the social partners with concise and yet comprehensive
information on the legislation governing the operation of the private
security industry in relation to:
- Entrance requirements for firms
- Restrictions on the background of owners and managers of private security
companies
- Restrictions on the background of operational staff
- Performance requirements for companies
- Minimum requirements for training and education
- Regulations governing the wearing of uniforms
- Legislation governing the use of fire arms
- Provisions regarding the use of dogs on duty
- Provisions relating to governing control and sanctions in the industry
In addition, the study sought to gather information on the basic legislation
or framework collective agreements governing working conditions in the
sector relating to:
- Working time (including working hours and breaks)
- Minimum wage
- Holiday entitlements and rights to time off
- Employment protection
- Part-time work
- Temporary work
- Bogus self-employment
- Equal opportunities
As a follow-up within their social dialogue, CoESS and UNI-Europa have
already set up a joint working party with the objective to identify the
obstacles to harmonisation, to prepare agreements on the ways to remove
them and to formulate proposals for harmonisation to be submitted to the
decision-makers.
As a first task, this working group is focused on CIT, as a result of
the initiative taken by the European Commission, Directorate General Economic
and Financial Affairs, aimed at regulating cross-border CIT. DG EC/FIN
announced its intention to elaborate a regulation for the cross-border
aspects of CIT. As a result of some very intensive consultations of all
parties involved, including CoESS and UNI-Europa, DG EC/FIN announced
that before taking any further steps, it would be necessary to conduct
a more in-depth study of the legislation and rules applicable at national
level. CoESS and UNI-Europa, within the framework of their social dialogue,
conducted the first part of this study in 2004 concerning the 15 old EU
Member States.
Currently, the second phase of the project has been initiated, under
the same conditions and with the same objectives and context as the first
part, to analyse and compare the CIT legislation and regulations within
the 10 Member States that joined the EU since May 2004. The project offers
the possibility to look for joint responses for the enormous challenges
emanating from the European Union and the enlargement such as for instance
the future harmonisation of the sector.
With a view to the 4th European Conference of Private Security, organised
by CoESS and UNI-Europa in Madrid on 14th and 15th October 2004, and with
the recent enlargement of the European Union in mind, the European representative
social partners, CoESS and UNI-Europa, decided to produce a Panoramic
Overview of the private security industry in all 25 Member States of the
European Union. The panoramic overview aims to provide a general outline
of the current situation of the private security industry in the individual
Member States. The study aims to provide a general picture of the private
security sector in each EU Member State concentrating on the legal situation,
the social situation and the economic reality in the European Union since
May 2004.
Other joint initiatives
Joint European Conferences
The results of the Social Dialogue must be made available to all levels.
In order for the national social partners to translate these results into
the national sphere, they must be informed. Experts from all fields related
to private security must be made aware of the efforts and achievements
of the social dialogue. Authorities must take into consideration the needs
of the sector, both at European and at national level.
CoESS and UNI-Europa have therefore decided to organise, at regular times,
major European Conferences. These high-level gatherings are aimed at bringing
together a large public linked to the sector, to make the results of the
social dialogue known, to hold a series of constructive and critical debates
on important issues, in other words, to mark the development and the progress
of the social dialogue. Every conference held until know has witnessed
the gathering of between 250 and 300 experts, the presence of very high-level
authorities (Ministers, Commissioners, …) and has allowed the private
security sector to become visible.
A first conference was held in London in 1996. Common opinions were adopted
concerning accreditation or licensing for companies having access to the
market and vocational training. The second conference, held in Berlin
in 1999, produced a memorandum on the awarding of public procurement contracts,
a common opinion on the enlargement of the European Union and the mutual
recognition agreement between UNI-Europa and CoESS. A third conference
was held in Brussels in December 2001 and was marked by the signing of
the joint declaration on harmonisation, major theme of the conference.
The most recent conference was held in October 2004, in Madrid.
Health and safety
A joint project has resulted in covering the identification of risks
for health and safety at work in private security.
Code of Conduct
CoESS and UNI-Europa have also signed a Joint Code of Conduct for the
private security sector. In this way, they want to try to develop a set
of standards for the benefit of employers, employees, clients and society,
to recommend the application of these standards to all member organisations
of CoESS and UNI-Europa and to all companies and employees affiliated
to these member organisations, and to follow-up this code and its application
within the framework of the sectoral dialogue committee established at
European level
Themes included in this code refer to regulation and licensing, vocational
training, health and safety, non-discrimination, fair working conditions,
quality of services, freedom of association and collective bargaining,
information and consultation, mutual recognition, CEEC's, awarding of
contracts and work organisation.
Initiatives and consultation by the European Commission
As foreseen in the Treaty on the European Union, the European Commission
has the obligation to consult the European social partners on any initiative
it wants to take in the social field or on any other initiative with social
implications. Also CoESS and UNI-Europa are therefore regularly requested
to express their views on a large series of themes the European Commission
would like to act.
Present mandates
All CoESS member federations are invited to participate.
