WORKING CONDITIONS : QUALITY OF WORK ON THE INFORMAL COUNCIL MENU.

• Position: Brief article

The 27 employment and social affairs ministers of the EU will meet on 18 and 19 January in Berlin for an informal Council. Uniting forces for a social Europe and a social world' is the slogan of the German Presidency of the EU. One of the thematic focuses of this meeting will be the quality of work. The Presidency's background document explains that good work' means: fair wages, protection against health risks at work, workers' right to assert their interests and to participate, family-friendly working arrangements and enough jobs. The Presidency adds that major elements in respect to quality of work include: working conditions promoting lifelong learning, social dialogue, balance between flexibility and security, and disability management.

Two other issues will be discussed in connection with the quality of work: the Commission communication on the demographic future of Europe and the Green Paper on labour law.

The meeting will take place...