Employment policy includes the EU’s strategic objectives aimed at ensuring full employment, good working conditions, high productivity, and social cohesion in accordance with the “flexi-security” policy which combines flexibility and security in the labour markets.
The acquis in this Chapter includes minimal standards in the areas of labour law, equal treatment of men and women in terms of employment and social security, health, and safety at work. In addition, special binding rules have been set to ensure the protection from discrimination on the basis of gender, race, ethnic background, disability, sexual orientation, age, faith, or belief.
European Social Fund (ESF) is the main instrument for the EU employment strategic policy. It was established in 1957 and it finances measures aimed at boosting employment in EU countries and regions, especially those less developed.
Europe 2020 is a EU strategy on how to secure new and safe work places and better life for citizens. The strategy objective is to ensure economic development based on knowledge, preserving the environment, and high levels of employment, productivity, and social cohesion.
* Until June 2014, head of the working group was Vesna Simović, Assistant Minister of Labour and Social Welfare.